The town’s male voice choir will hold their Annual Gala Concert at St Mary’s Priory Church on Saturday 17th October 7.30pm. The choir, now in their fifteenth year, are fresh from a third appearance at the Royal Albert Hall and are now firmly established as the leading male voice choir in South East Wales. With over 90 members, it is a far cry from their first public performance back in December 2012, when just 18 choristers sang (with scores) to a small audience in the Priory Rooms.

This year the choir will be joined by a wonderful ladies ensemble, Vox in Frox, from Somerset. The ladies are a choir you don’t want to miss, they perform everything from gospel to sacred, folk to pop and will provide a magical contrast to the power and passion the male voice choir will bring.

MD Lewis Hutton has been delighted with rehearsals in the run up to the Gala Concert with an 80% turnout on most Thursday’s. Once again a varied repertoire has been selected but will also include a few numbers from the Albert Hall: Y Tangnefeddwyr, O Love and Bydd Myrdd O Ryfeddodau; some old favourites and a few new foot tappers.

However, the emotional highlight is likely to be the Alwyn Humphries arrangement of ‘To Where You Are’ which has been specially dedicated to the memory of those that lost their lives in the terrible tragedy that hit the village of Aberfan 60 years ago.

Many local dignitaries and special guests will be in attendance and will join both choirs for refreshments after the concert in the Priory. Tickets have sold well and with only a handful remaining, another sell-out audience is anticipated. If you have left your purchase to the last minute, hurry to Stephen’s Bookshop in Church Street or visit the choir website www.monmvc.org.uk