Canterbury Choirboys Tour the Rhondda

More than 500 people packed into St Anne's Church, Ynyshir, on a Tuesday night for a unique musical experience showcasing young talent at its best from two very different worlds.

Canterbury choirboys swapped the grandeur of their famous cathedral for the evening to join the choir of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn in the more modest setting of the village church. Both choirs delighted the audience with a range of songs, sacred and secular, ancient and modern. There were also individual performances by the youngsters, who, despite their youth, showed no nerves singing solos and playing instruments in front of such a large crowd, which included the Rhondda Mayor and Mayoress, Robert and Margaret Smith, and the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, Roy Noble.

The concert was a ‘Music in the Community’ initiative, organised by the vicar of Ynyshir, Fr Paul Bigmore. It followed a concert last September when Fr Paul took the choir of Ysgol Llwyncelyn - along with other singers, an orchestra and an Archbishop - to Canterbury Cathedral to celebrate the 10th birthday of Music in the Community.

Fr Paul said, "The concert on Tuesday night can only be described as Heaven on Earth - everyone who attended was transfixed by the talent of all the youngsters. A great band of friendship has been formed between Canterbury and the Rhondda now which we are determined to nurture. That's the wonderful thing about music - it transforms communities, builds bridges to bring people together and opens the doors to friendships. I am very grateful to everyone who made the evening so brilliant."

The following morning, the 18 choir boys, all aged 8-13, visited Ysgol Llwyncelyn for a short service. They sang an anthem and the school choir sang The Lord's Prayer in Welsh. Then both choirs went off to the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, for a tour of Wales' "cathedral of sport".

Dr David Flood, Master of Music at Canterbury Cathedral and choirmaster said, “Visiting the Rhondda Valley with the choristers for the very first time was a real joy. The boys were able to make many new friends and to share some of their music with other music-loving people. It was a real joy to hear the children from the Ysgol Llwyncelyn and to renew our contact with their so-dedicated staff. The more we can make music alive in any community, the better life is for everyone. The spirit of celebration and cooperation at the concert was really wonderful. Our congratulations to Father Paul Bigmore for his energy and determination which made this occasion possible. We look forward to future occasions when we can celebrate and enlarge the links with “our” Archbishop’s homeland.”

Gavin Ashcroft, music teacher at Ysgol Llwyncelyn, said it was an experience his pupils would never forget. He said, “It was a very memorable occasion which our pupils will have with them for the rest of their lives. The two choirs were worlds apart as the Canterbury choristers sing constantly and are technically perfect, like professionals, whereas we sing for fun. But it was lovely to see them getting on together and having fun.”

Guy Steed, 13, who has been a Canterbury chorister for five years, said the trip had been great fun. "We were excited about coming here because our Archbishop is Welsh. Although St Anne's is a much smaller church than the one we're used to, it's very pretty and the acoustics are really good."