BUILTH Male Voice Choir hosted a stunning concert to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Mid Wales Pavilion Llandrindod Wells on Saturday, September 8.

A capacity audience of 450 were enthralled by the wonderful music on offer professionally performed at a grand venue. The event also raised a substantial contribution to Amser Justin Time Pancreatic Cancer Charity Wales.

To mark this anniversary milestone Builth Choir had invited Mousehole Male Voice Choir from Cornwall, Welsh personality Shân Cothi and local harpist Martha Powell to perform with them. The joint masters of ceremony for the evening were choristers Viv Jones and David Power who kept proceedings flowing with guile and humour.

Builth Male Voice Choir started the concert with a rousing rendition of Sanctus by Cherubini followed by a sailors song, Cytgan Y Morwyr by Joseph Parry, under the baton of their musical director Luned Jones with accompanist Ann Bufton. Builth Choir concluded the first half with their assistant musical director Adrian Morgan conducting Bring Him Home from Shönberg's Les Miserables and a new piece for the choir, The Prayer made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, which was greatly appreciated by the audience.

Mousehole Male Voice Choir, the best known and largest choir in Cornwall, were visiting Mid Wales for the first time in their 110 year history. With over 60 choristers on stage the choir performed an extensive repertoire including the Welsh classic Calon Lân arranged by Nick Rogers, a former conductor of Rhayader Male Voice Choir. Under the leadership of their talented musical director Stephen Lawry Mousehole Male Voice Choir is one of the few male voice choirs to have doubled in size over the past 15 years and their musical prowess blossomed through their whole performance. Their accompanist was David Ceredig-Evans and two items were also accompanied by flautist Maureen Nicholls, partner of one of the choristers.

The show also starred soprano and Welsh personality Shân Cothi whose classical and music theatre repertoire has enthralled audiences throughout the world. Shân was accompanied by Jeff Howard, the internationally famous accompanist, organist, arranger and vocal coach who expertly played for Shân's two sets of songs. She delighted the audience when she serenaded Viv Jones, a former Builth Choir chairman and the evening's master of ceremonies, in a rousing and comic rendition of the Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus.

The young Welsh harpist Martha Powell from Brecon also performed in the concert. Martha had selected a very broad selection of music from traditional Welsh airs to modern film themes which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and choristers. The concert concluded with the choirs combining to sing together conducted by Stephen Lawry and their first piece We Rise Again arranged by Canadian Stephen Smith was very moving. For their second combined item the choirs were joined by Shân Cothi to sing Rogers and Hammerstein's You'll Never Walk Alone which received a standing ovation. For an encore the choirs performed Morte Christe.

The concert concluded with presentations to those taking part. In 2008 Shân Cothi set up Amser Justin Time Pancreatic Cancer Charity Wales following the loss of her husband Justin Smith. A cheque in the sum £2,500 was presented to Shân by Megan Jones and Tricia Davies representing Builth Choir Supporters Group who had run a raffle to support this charity which funds essential research to help pancreatic cancer patients in Wales. Shân thanked everybody who had contributed prizes for the fundraising.

Derek Hope, chairman of Builth Choir, gave thanks to all the very talented performers and accompanists who had made the evening such a success.

Builth Male Voice Choir will be continuing to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a tour to Yorkshire and Cheshire at the beginning of October. The choir is always keen to welcome new members who would like to share in the joy of singing and the friendship and comradeship membership brings. Those wishing to make enquiries can find information on the choir's website builthmalechoir.org.uk or telephoning 01982 552922 / 07938833264 or by email: bmvc.eventsmanager@gmail.com