Tenby Male Choir was delighted to perform a fundraising concert for the 2022 Poppy Appeal on Thursday, November 10 at St Mary’s Church, in this centenary year of the Tenby Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Choristers were led into the church by a colour party comprising Piper Graham Phillips, Chairman of Tenby RBL Shane Roberts with the centenary wreath, followed by the branch’s standard bearer.

The choir sang a balanced selection from its repertoire, polished during a successful return to singing this summer. Rousing Welsh hymns included Rachie, Llef and Gwahoddiad. Musical theatre classics Anthem from Chess, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables and Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music were complemented by popular ballads Shenandoah and Let It Be Me. Elvis Presley’s powerful and stirring American Trilogy concluded the concert, followed by the National Anthems, these pieces being augmented by Dr John Harrison playing the church’s organ.

One of TMC’s objectives is to showcase local young musicians, so members were delighted that their soloist on Thursday was Carys Underwood once again, who played the marimba. Carys, who hails from Narberth, attended Ysgol Gyfun Preseli. She is now a second-year scholarship student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, also performing with the city’s Philharmonic, Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

Tenby Male Choir’s musical director over the past 16 years, Ian “Wilbur” Williams, sadly had to retire with ill-health at the end of the choir’s summer season. The choir was relieved that long-term back-up MD, Mr Paul Rapi, was able and willing to step in to conduct and delighted that he has accepted the position of musical director going forward, backed up by Miranda Morgan as assistant MD. At the concert Paul did a marvellous job in difficult circumstances, supported by accompanist Jill WIlliams. The audience were fulsome in their praise of the concert and the Rector of St Mary’s, Rev Andrew Grace, commented that the choir’s performance was the best he’d witnessed this year.

The evening closed with a vote of thanks from Graham Phillips on behalf of Tenby Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Tenby Male Choir now begin planning and preparing for their 2023 programme. This would be an ideal time for any gentlemen who might be interested in joining the choir to contact secretary Mike Slade on [email protected] so he can arrange for them to come along to a rehearsal, (Tuesdays and Thursdays at Augustus Place Social Centre), meet with choristers old and new and explore how they might enjoy the fellowship of the group, support charities and contribute to the cultural life of the area.