Canterbury choirboys join Welsh 'music in the community' concert

The 18 trebles from the prestigious choir of Canterbury Cathedral are coming to Wales to take part in a “Music in the Community” concert at St Anne’s Church, Ynyshir, organised by the parish priest, Father Paul Bigmore.

So far this year, they have toured US, France and Holland but the best is yet to come for the world’s most famous choirboys as they embark on a trip to the Rhondda for a unique celebration of music.

The choir will be returning a visit Rhondda parishioners made to their cathedral last September. Father Paul took his congregation – as well as several choirs, soloists, an orchestra and an Archbishop – to Canterbury for a concert to celebrate a decade of Music in the Community.

The Canterbury choristers, who are aged 8 to 13, will sing alongside children from the local primary school, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn. The choir from the school also performed in the concert at Canterbury last September, in front of both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Wales.

Father Paul, a composer himself, set up the highly successful Music in the Community initiative to promote music in the South Wales valleys through recitals, concerts and workshops. He said it was a privilege for him to welcome the choirboys and the Organist and Master of the Music, Dr David Flood, to St Anne’s Church, as part of that initiative.

He said, “Music enables the heart and mind to be in tune with God. May this historic concert unite people in love for God and for each other as we give thanks and celebrate the gift of music.”

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “Last year’s concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Music in the Community was a truly inspiring event and I am delighted the boys from the Cathedral choir are coming to this parish in Wales to return the visit and sing once again with the talented pupils from Ysgol Llwyncelyn.

"There is a rich tradition of church choral music in the South Wales so I’m sure, as one of the best cathedral choirs in the world, they will be warmly welcomed and appreciated.”

The choirboys are well travelled already this year – since Easter they have had trips to perform in America, France and Holland. But choirmaster Dr David Flood said they were looking forward to coming to the Rhondda.

He said, “This trip is much more relaxing for us - no passports needed to visit our friends in Wales and it will be good to sing somewhere we have never been to but where we have such strong links through our Archbishop.

"The boys will have a chance to make new friends and to see the Rhondda, where very few of them have been before. They can also give a concert on their own, without the men, which will be good experience for them.”

The choirboys will perform music they sing during services and also some entertaining surprise pieces. Some of them will play their instruments, so there will be a string quartet, for example, and some flute music.

The concert will take place at St Anne’s Church, Ynyshir, Porth, on July 14, at 7pm.