St. Johns Church was suitable decorated with flags and daffodils in anticipation of celebrating St. David’s Day and holding a concert given by Tenby Male Choir last Thursday (February 28).

Compere David Blackmore introduced the choir to a small but attentive audience who were eagerly looking forward to an evening mainly of songs from Wales.

They were not disappointed. The first section started with a firm favourite Rachie. Musical director Ian Williams stepped up to start them off, ably assisted by Mark Thompson on the piano.

The choir, singing with passion, followed up with the nostalgic Hiraeth and then Benedictus before asking the audience to join in with the Sound of Music favourite Climb Every Mountain, setting the benchmark for the coming concert season, as far as audience participation is concerned.

Next we heard African Prayer - Lord Bless Africa, a hymn composed in 1897 and then adopted 100 years later following the independence of South Africa as their national anthem.

With the first section over, it was time to hear the soloist, local Tenby pianist, 12-year-old Elizabeth Morgan, who delighted the audience with The Spruce by Sibelius and then followed up with Kuhlau Sonatina Op 60 No.3, which she played with exceptional clarity and demonstrated why she won the 2018 Pembrokeshire School Music Festival (The Open Piano Winner) and the Overall Festival Winner for that year.

The choir returned for the second section starting with Lief and then remembering those who worked in the coal mining industry, sang Working Man, allowing John Butland and Kevin Morgan to add their fitting tribute to those who worked underground.

From the musical Les Miserables the choir then sang the evocative Bring Him Home, which was followed by the gentle famous Welsh piece Myfanwy, sung beautifully by the choir.

The powerful Christus Salvator completed the second section.

David Blackmore then welcomed back soloist Elizabeth Morgan, who played Michael Nyman’s The Promise. She then followed up with Schubert’s Impromptu Op 90 No.2 which illustrated magical playing, allowing the piano to sing and making us feel so lucky that we have this amazing talent here in Tenby.

The choir returned for the final section, singing Gwahoddiad, followed by another tribute to local mining community with Take Me Home. From the musical Chess, the choir’s rendition of Anthem demonstrated their virtuosity and balance. The song is about national pride for the country where you are born and fitting for the St. David’s Day Concert.

The tradition of asking members of the audience to join them on stage was maintained when a brave local man joined the choir to sing Morte Christie, leaving the final song of the evening - Anfonaf Angel, which has been adopted by the Wales Air Ambulance as their anthem.

A superb evening full of wonderful singing and amazing solo piano playing left everyone looking forward to the coming season for Tenby Male Choir.

Jim Cornwell