Welsh Choir of Southern California

    THE WELSH CHOIR OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO PERFORM AT SOUTH BAY VENUE

Renowned Welsh Conductor Haydn James will join Côr Cymraeg De Califfornia for 10th Anniversary Concert

 LOS ANGELES (Aug. 18, 2008) — The Welsh Choir of Southern California — known in Welsh as
Côr Cymraeg De Califfornia —will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a concert at St. Francis Episcopal Church in the South Bay. The Los Angeles-based choir under the direction of Frank Evan Williams and guest Welsh conductor Dr. Haydn James, with accompanist/organist Dr. Hojun Lee, will present highlights of the choir’s best music of the last 10 years, at 4pm, Sunday, September 7th at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200 Via Rosa, in Palos Verdes Estates.

The performance will include traditional Welsh favorites and several new arrangements and pieces. The Welsh Choir will be accompanied by noted local artists: Andrew Scott, tenor soloist, Ellie Choate on harp, percussionist Robin Sharp on timpani, Debbie Stoh on flute with Welsh-born actress Linda Slade as narrator. General admission tickets are $20; $18 for students, seniors and military. Tickets are available for purchase at the door, and parking is free on site.

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GUEST CONDUCTOR/MUSICAL DIRECTOR
DR HAYDN JAMES

Haydn James was born in Maesteg and studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and the University of London, where he obtained his Doctorate. Following a successful career in industry, he is now increasingly in demand as a conductor and adjudicator.

This year, Dr. James celebrates an unbroken period of 41 years as a conductor within the London Welsh community. For 12 years, he was conductor of the Dylan Singers and since 1979, has been Musical Director of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. During this period, he has appeared at most of the country’s major concert venues, has traveled extensively all over the world and, for the past ten seasons has served as Musical Director for the Welsh Rugby Union, leading choirs and bands in the pre-match singing at more than 50 of Wales’ Home International Games in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. He has also conducted the singing at Cup and International matches in Paris, Capetown, Murrayfield, Twickenham and the new Wembley Stadium In addition, Dr. James toured with the 2001 and 2005 British and Irish Lions Rugby Choir to Australia and New Zealand respectively, giving concerts in the various host cities, as well as appearing on the field to direct the singing. On the return journey from New Zealand, he directed a massed choir in the Sydney Opera House, a concert which was repeated in November 2007, when some 400 singers were joined by Regimental Bands from both Wales and New South Wales.

In October 2006, Dr. James made his eighth appearance conducting the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs (the “1000 voices”) at the Royal Albert Hall and has been invited to conduct the 2008 Concert.

In addition, he is an enthusiastic Gymanfa Ganu supporter and conductor; as well as directing these hymn-singing festivals in Wales and England, he has conducted six Gymanfaoedd in Canada and, in 2003 and 2005 directed the North American Welsh Societies’ Festivals in Vancouver and Florida. In 2006, he led the first hymn-singing festival held in Sioux City, Iowa.

Future plans, in addition to a full diary with London Welsh, include a concert in the Wales Millennium Centre, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Regis College in Boston and the Royal Albert Hall; in 2009, Dr. James will undertake a three week tour to South Africa with the 2009 British and Irish Lions Choir as well as two massed-choir concerts in Sydney later in the same year.

Dr. James has worked with Cor Cymraeg De Califfornia on three occasions, and is delighted to be joining them again on this special anniversary weekend.

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For more information, please visit www.welshchoir.com.  If wish to purchase tickets for the St. Francis Episcopal Church concert in advance, please call Caroline Roper-Deyo at (562) 209-8184 or email cariadcaroline@yahoo.com.

The Welsh Choir of Southern California, Côr Cymraeg De Califfornia, celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2008, is a multi-ethnic choir dedicated to bringing the glories of Welsh music and culture to audiences worldwide through performances and recordings. It features a 30-member mixed-voice choir and the talents of several distinguished local musicians and soloists. Singing in English and Welsh, their repertoire includes new music featuring contemporary Welsh poets and composers, as well as traditional Welsh hymns and folk songs.  Instruction in Welsh language pronunciation is provided.
The choir rehearses weekly on Sunday afternoons from 2-4:30 pm, at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd Street, Westchester, near LAX.