Prostate Cymru was the nominated charity on Friday 27th September at Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir’s annual gala concert. The Gleemen were joined by special guests Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir and Upper Rhondda Brass Band for the concert at the grand Maesteg Town Hall, the last choral event at the venue before it closes for two years for refurbishment. Prostate Cymru’s Chief Executive Tina Tew, Dawn Brace and the charity’s President David Brace OBE attended the magnificent evening of music compered by local town and county councillor Ross Penhale-Thomas.
Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir, the longest established choir in the Llynfi Valley, have had a busy year performing in weddings, concerts and charity events ahead of the gala evening. The choir, who are under the baton of musical director Alun Hodges and are accompanied by Suzanne Hodges, were in fine voice at the concert.
The choir were joined by local ensemble Kenfig Hill Male Voice Choir. Choral singing in Kenfig Hill can be traced as far back as 1890. The choir in its current form, under musical director Josh Xerri, has grown to over 80 members and has performed in many venues across the United Kingdom and Europe. Completing the programme were the Upper Rhondda Brass Band. The band, based in Pentre, was formed in 2001 and have enjoyed success at local and national competitions including the National Eisteddfod and National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
The programme for the gala concert was varied, ranging from traditional Welsh songs and band pieces to themes from musicals, films and popular music. Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir paid a tribute to the popular Elvis Festival in Porthcawl that weekend with a fantastic rendition of ‘Always On My Mind’. The three ensembles joined together at the end of each half of the concert to perform Welsh hymns ‘Gwahoddiad’ and ‘Tydi A Roddaist’. All proceeds from the fantastic evening will be donated to Prostate Cymru.