The first of the melodious voices at the festival will be known to so many, that of Sue Charles. Sue who was born and educated just up the road from Brecon in Llandrindod Wells is recognised by many of us as a voicefrom both the TV and radio across BBC Wales. Sue together with the Mayor of Brecon, Councillor David Meredith will open this cornucopia of Welsh Food and drink plus this year song.
Across the day of 1st October at the Market Hall those visiting the Brecon Beacons Food Festival will have a melodious background of choristers from five local choirs.
Running to a loosely timed programme the first choir, with melodious voices, to perform is the Brecon Male Voice Choir. Known as Côr Meibion Aberhonddu or even Brecon Male Choir, this a choir of around 40 voices that keep the tradition of male voice singing which is at the heart of Welsh culture. Their repertoire is wide and varied from West End pieces to famous operettas and not forgetting the traditional Welsh hymns.
The next choir on stage will be the Cor Merched Tybie a change of gender yes but not the quality of voices. An all ladies choir from Llandybie make a wonderful sound as they delight in their singing. Meeting every Wednesday evening at Caerbryn Village Hall their philosophy of singing enjoyment reflects in the very wide selection of music performed from classical through jazz, pop, musical theatre and of course Welsh hymns.
Around lunchtime visitors to the food festival will be given the chance to listen to the melodious voices of the Talgarth Male Voice Choir. The Choir’s Repertoire covers many musical genres. Traditional Welsh Hymns (of course), songs from the shows, classics from the past, classics from the charts, traditional folk songs, songs from overseas…..all have a part to play in the make-up of our programmes. The Market Hall in Brecon is a very small venue for this choir that has sung at the Royal Albert Hall no less than six times. At heart though the Talgarth Male Voice Choir is a local choir.
The afternoon of singing with melodious voices is started by Synergy. A choir from Abergavenny yes male voice but very much different with their close four part harmonics that is sung acapella. It is their approach and choice of songs that make them different much of this resounding from their incredibly talented musical director Owen McCarthy. Owen whose day job is teaching in an Additional Learning Needs school has evening and weekends that are full of music. The piano was his major within his music degree but also enjoys the clarinet and singing but is finding his true forte in conducting with both the City of Cardiff Concert Band and Synergy. It’s no wonder they win award.
With such talent gracing the festival the visitors have further treats in store. Alive & Kickin is a community choir founded just a few years ago in 2013 by singer songwriter Tanya Walker. The choir members come from so many different back ground and start with varied abilities but with such directing abilities from Tanya the resulting sound is professional and resounding. We think it is better to let the choir say it in their own words “Enjoy singing beautiful and inspiring songs & have lots of fun!”
And yes its lots of fun and melodious voices enjoyment visitors will have at the Brecon Beacons Food Festival this Saturday 1st October not to mention the most wonderful Welsh Food and Drink.
For more about the Brecon Food Festival please go to either www.breconbeaconsfoodfestival.co.uk or www.welshcountry.co.uk/brecon-beacons-food-festival-2022/
