Latest news with #SuzzieVango
Pembrokeshire Herald
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembroke Dock man jailed after defrauding vulnerable victim out of thousands
A CHILDREN'S chorus brought a packed St Davids Cathedral to life on Saturday (May 24) as this year's Cathedral Music Festival officially got underway. The performance marked the launch of the 2025 festival and was led by renowned choral director Suzzie Vango, whose energy and enthusiasm inspired dozens of young performers from across Pembrokeshire. Singing beneath the towering cathedral organ and the historic nave's vaulted ceiling, the children delivered a programme of uplifting and challenging repertoire to a captivated audience. The concert followed a lively morning performance from the choristers in the North Transept, where songs from The Lion King and Adele were among the crowd favourites during the 'Choristers Unplugged' session. Suzzie Vango, who has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Choirs and the AB Choir Directors, led the evening performance with warmth and precision. Under her direction, the children's voices filled the ancient building with powerful harmonies and joyful expression. Speaking to The Herald after the concert, one audience member said: 'It was incredibly moving to see so many young people singing their hearts out in such a beautiful setting. You could see how proud their families were.' The children's chorus is just one part of this year's ambitious festival programme, which continues until Wednesday (May 28). Performers include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Queen's Six, clarinettist Emma Johnson, and a range of vocal and instrumental ensembles. The organisers say the aim of the festival is to celebrate musical excellence while making performances accessible to local people. Children under 18 were given free entry to the launch concert. The Cathedral Music Festival, now in its 44th year, is one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in West Wales and draws audiences from across the UK. Tickets for remaining events are available from the cathedral's website and box office.
Pembrokeshire Herald
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Young voices light up cathedral as children's chorus launches 2025 music festival
A CHILDREN'S chorus brought a packed St Davids Cathedral to life on Saturday (May 24) as this year's Cathedral Music Festival officially got underway. The performance marked the launch of the 2025 festival and was led by renowned choral director Suzzie Vango, whose energy and enthusiasm inspired dozens of young performers from across Pembrokeshire. Singing beneath the towering cathedral organ and the historic nave's vaulted ceiling, the children delivered a programme of uplifting and challenging repertoire to a captivated audience. The concert followed a lively morning performance from the choristers in the North Transept, where songs from The Lion King and Adele were among the crowd favourites during the 'Choristers Unplugged' session. Suzzie Vango, who has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Choirs and the AB Choir Directors, led the evening performance with warmth and precision. Under her direction, the children's voices filled the ancient building with powerful harmonies and joyful expression. Speaking to The Herald after the concert, one audience member said: 'It was incredibly moving to see so many young people singing their hearts out in such a beautiful setting. You could see how proud their families were.' The children's chorus is just one part of this year's ambitious festival programme, which continues until Wednesday (May 28). Performers include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Queen's Six, clarinettist Emma Johnson, and a range of vocal and instrumental ensembles. The organisers say the aim of the festival is to celebrate musical excellence while making performances accessible to local people. Children under 18 were given free entry to the launch concert. The Cathedral Music Festival, now in its 44th year, is one of the highlights of the cultural calendar in West Wales and draws audiences from across the UK. Tickets for remaining events are available from the cathedral's website and box office.
Western Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
St Davids Cathedral Music Festival's 2025 programme
The annual St Davids Cathedral Music Festival, now in its 44th year, will take place during the May half-term from May 23 to 29. The festival will begin with a launch concert featuring 120 schoolchildren from across the county, led by conductor Suzzie Vango. A highlight of the festival programme is the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, performing on Saturday, May 24. This year, the orchestra will be conducted by Kristian Sallinen from Finland. Their 2025 programme will include Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World', Grace Williams' Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes, and Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures, sung by BBC Cardiff Singer of the World finalist Claire Barnett-Jones. Pembrokeshire-born pianist and conductor Jocelyn Freeman will be the Artist in Residence, performing in three concerts. On Sunday evening, she will join the Alkyona String Quartet for a performance of Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet and Ravel's String Quartet. On Bank Holiday Monday, she will join Vox Angelica and the Vicars Choral as a guest soloist for an evening of choral music and madrigals. The same day, tuba player Aled Meredith-Barrett will perform with his brass quintet Connaught Brass, in a programme featuring music from West Side Story and the UK premiere of a new work by American composer Carlos Simon. On Tuesday, Jocelyn Freeman will perform with tenor James Gilchrist and his students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in a concert entitled 'A Poet's Love'. The concert will celebrate the work of Dylan Thomas with settings of his poetry by William Mathias, Rhian Samuel, and Meirion Williams. To close the festival, vocal sextet the Queen's Six will present their programme 'Mapping the Stars', featuring music by Monteverdi and Taverner, alongside arrangements of contemporary hits such as Coldplay's 'Viva la Vida' and Starship's 'We Built This City on Rock and Roll.' Tickets for the 2025 festival are on sale now. For more information, visit the cathedral website.
