Monmouth Male Voice Choir gave one of their best ever performances on 16th January and wowed a packed Borough Theatre audience. The concert, organised to help raise funds for the choir’s upcoming visit to the Royal Albert Hall in June, was an outstanding success and did a great deal to enhance the reputation of this vibrant ensemble. Amazingly it was only the second time the choir has performed at this venue, but given the rapturous reception they received from the enthusiastic crowd it could become a regular fixture on their calendar.

With almost 60 choristers onstage, the choir kicked off the evening with their now familiar rendition of Yma Y Hyd and followed with another Welsh favourite Rachie. To complete their first set they sang the Les Miserable favourite I Dreamed a Dream and the classic Nat King Cole number When I Fall in Love specially arranged by the choir’s highly talented Musical Director Lewis Hutton.

While the choir took a deserved break the audience were entertained by Lewis Hutton and accompanist Ben Pinnow. Lewis, a professional singer in his own right, had the ladies in particular mesmerised by his charm and smooth delivery of some jazz favourites. The choir then returned to deliver a new number Dashenka, an emotional Tell My Father and another Lewis Hutton arrangement of the title song from the TV drama Keeping Faith, called Faith’s Song. To close the first half the choir then showcased their immense power with the ever popular Welsh songs Calon Lan and Gwinllan a roddwyd i’m gofal.

After the short interval Monmouth Male Voice Choir continued to delight with Llanfair, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Hiraeth before Lewis returned to captivate with more smooth melodies.

To close, the choir took the roof off with thunderous renditions of American Trilogy, What Would I Do Without My Music, the delightful O Love, a new number which they will perform at the Albert Hall and, following chants of ‘more, more’, as an encore, the hugely popular Gwahoddiad.

Comments on the show include: “If you get the chance to see this show then I highly recommend. A superb mix of emotion and laughter, thank you so much, we are still talking about it today. When is the next one?”

Monmouth Male Voice Choir has come a very long way in its short existence. In June they will make their third appearance at the prestigious London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs. They have also sung the anthems on three occasions at the Principality Stadium and entertained the American Ambassador twice in Regents Park. With over 80 members they are an enigma on the choral scene, a growing choir.

They are fantastic ambassadors for the town of Monmouth and the whole of south east Wales and supporters can see them again at St Mary’s Priory Church, Monmouth when they are joined by Worcester Male Voice Choir for a St David’s Day Concert, proceeds to be donated to the Mayor’s Flood Relief appeal. Tickets available at www.monmvc.org.uk or from Stephens Books in Church Street.