A TOP choir from North Wales is headlining a prestigious festival in the USA.

By Gareth Bicknell



Bethesda-based Côr Meibion Penrhyn will top the bill at a gala concert at the 75th Gwyl Cymreig Gogledd America (North American Festival of Wales).

The event is being staged in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday, 2 September.

The concert will round off a mini tour of the States including performances at Chicago and Rio Grande.

The choir's Chicago concert, scheduled for Friday, will be broadcast live on American radio.

Accompanying Côr Meibion Penrhyn on the tour is Penrhyn harp soloist Gwenan Gibbard, Bangor actor and singer John Ogwen and Côr Meibion Penrhyn spin-off Hogia'r Bonc.

The tour marks the farewell of the choir's accompanist Menna Leyshon , who has been with Côr Meibion Penrhyn for 20 years.

Mrs Leyshon, 70, of Llanfairfechan, said: "It's a nice way to bow out. When they first asked me to play with the choir I considered it for quite a long time because it was a big commitment.

"I eventually decided to say 'yes' and it was the best decision I've ever made. It's been a wonderful 20 years."

Choir members have a last-minute practice before they fly to America. With Menna Leyshon Owain Arwel Davies, Alun Davies, Garem Jackson, Arwel Owen, Gerry Baker, Emyr Vaughan Evans and Phil Watts.

Conductor Owain Arwel Davies said he was "very honoured and excited".

The 28-year-old from Bethesda said: "It's quite a big opportunity because it's only the top choirs who get asked to do the concert. The audience is going to be in excess of 1,000."

Mr Davies, originally from Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, is head of music at Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor. He wrote an arrangement of male voice choir favourite Myfanwy for the trip.

"When they go to these festivals they want to hear the traditional Welsh songs, Myfanwy and the hymns.

"We're obviously going to be singing the favourites like Gwahoddiad and Evening Prayer from Under Milk Wood set to Troyte's Chant."

He added: "Menna has got a lot of friends in the choir. It will be an emotional trip".

The choir recorded a CD called Arwelfa. especially for the trip which is available from choir members now.

Proceeds will go towards the choir's £20,000 tour fund which received a £1,000 boost from the Penrhyn/Pennant family trust.

The North American Festival of Wales starts on Thursday, 31 August, finishing on Sunday, 3 September with the 75th Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu featuring conductor Roy Morris.

The festival is expected to attract visitors from all over the USA and Canada, and features a folk concert with Hogia'r Bonc, a Grand Banquet with renowned vocalist and harpist Sian James, the David G. Morris competition for semi-professional soloists and a daily Welsh marketplace.

• For more information about Cor Meibion Penrhyn visit [www.cor-y-penrhyn.com]
  
  
• To find out more about the North American Festival of Wales go to [www.nafow.org]

Source: Daily Post, Friday, 24 August 2006 [web site] [e-mail Gareth Bicknell]

This article also included a photograph by Richard Williams of Côr Meibion Penrhyn, which has been omitted for copyright reasons.