Female Director of Famous Welsh Choir Resigns

The first-ever female musical director of Morriston Orpheus Choir in Wales has resigned, claiming she has been "hounded" from the job.

Sian Pearce became director of the world famous male choir three years ago.

In her resignation letter she claims a "minority of members" had a problem with a woman in charge and the choir was being torn apart by "fighting".

The choir, based in the Swansea Valley, declined to comment.

Morriston Orpheus has an international musical reputation and has recently returned from a tour of New Zealand and Australia, where it performed at the Sydney Opera House.

The 120-stong choir has also branched out into the pop world and performed with the likes of Welsh rockers The Alarm and 1980s chart-toppers T'Pau.

Ms Pearce told BBC Wales her resignation letter had been leaked to the South Wales Evening Post anonymously by someone else and she did not wish to comment at this stage.

When appointed in 2004 she said it was "a dream come true".

But the newspaper quoted her resignation letter as stating: "Some people have been reluctant for the choir to change, to move forward.

"Some people did not like the fact that a woman was leading the choir - that was a real problem for a minority of members.

"I have loved the Morriston Orpheus since I was a small child and to conduct them has been absolutely fantastic.

"The overwhelming majority of members have been wonderful, very supportive."

But she said she could not stand by and see the choir torn apart by "continual fighting".

"In the end I feel I have been hounded out of the job I love - it is a horrible situation."

A choir official said they did not wish to comment but the committee may make a formal statement at a future date.