| Biography | They have been successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to offer - five National Eisteddfod first prizes at Lampeter in 1984, Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in 2000. Seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at Porthcawl, six first at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid "Eisteddfodau". The choir was also successful in winning the Corwen Choral Competition at its first attempt in 1987 with a first prize of £1000.
The Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls of the land - London's Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham's Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth's Guild Hall, The MacRoberts Centre at Stirling as well as Cardiff's St David's Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall are just a few too numerous to list. Coventry, Bury St Edmonds, Wells, Brecon, Gloucester, St David's and Llandaff Cathedrals as well as Pershore and Westminster Abbey and other venues which the choir have given notable performances of great aplomb. They visited Ireland for the first time in 1999 rendering concerts at The National Concert Hall, Dublin and St Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny to commendable acclaim.
In their short 40 year history the choir has travelled extensively throughout the world. To Germany in 1975, 1979, 1985, 1992, 1995 and 2004. In 1980 they crossed the Atlantic for the first time visiting Alberta and British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. In 1987 their first tour of the U.S. was undertaken when they visited San Fransisco, Vancouver and Seattle. They returned to make a second tour in 1990. In 1989 they took part in the Nantes music festival in France and followed this with their first visit to Australia in 1993. In October and November of 1997 they undertook a 4 week tour of Australia and New Zealand singing to sell out audiences of some 22,500. Venues included Perth Concert Hall, Adelaide & Sydney Town Hall, Christchurch and Wellington Town Halls and Auckland Cathedral. The choir returned from another very successful tour of the United States in 2001 visiting San Jose, Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas, Lincoln & Min/St Pauls.
In 1994 they appeared at the Brit Awards at Alexandra Palace backing the 'Pet Shop Boys'. They have also appeared with Michael Ball, The New Seekers, Sir Harry Secombe and many other famous names of stage and screen. Regular T.V. appearances on S4C are common place whilst appearances on 'Pebble Mill at One', 'Songs of Praise' and other national programmes have given the choir the exposure it truly deserves. |