ENGLISH
Côr Tŷ Tawe
Tŷ Tawe Choir
Tŷ Tawe choir was established in Swansea, south Wales, in 1990 with the aim of promoting Welsh music in an anglicized part of Wales. 20% of the people of Wales speak Welsh, but Welsh is spoken by all members of Tŷ Tawe choir, and many of them have learnt the language as adults. Welsh is their usual means of communication. Tŷ Tawe is a Welsh language centre in Swansea which promotes Welsh language events and classes.
The choir is a small 4 part choir, with around 40 voices. (Most members are between 30 – 60 years old.) It performs regularly in Wales, in competitions and concerts, and it has also taken part in musical tours of Europe, to Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ireland and Catalonia. In Ireland it has won the first prize four times in the Pan Celtic Festival, which is held annually, in the competition for small choirs.
The choir’s repertoire includes Welsh folk songs, music by classical and modern composers and Welsh hymns which are an important part of the Welsh musical heritage.
The highlight of 2009 was the Choir’s trip to Gdansk, with two concerts. During October 2009, the choir has recorded a CD, with Fflach, the recording company. Items by Sion Goronwy, bass, and Helen Gibbon, soprano, are also on the CD.
Helen Gibbon
Conductor and soloist
The choir is led by Helen Gibbon, who is a well-known soprano soloist in Wales. She has won the first prize four times in the Wales National Eisteddfod (a cultural festival of musical and bardic competitions held annually). She has sung as a soloist with many choirs and in many countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, and twice in U.S.A., at Washington, Baltimore and Scranton.
She has conducted many youth choirs in Wales, which have won choir competitions in the Welsh National Youth Eisteddfod. She teaches at the Welsh medium secondary school in Carmarthen, south Wales.
John Evans
Accompanist
John Evans has accompanied the choir for more than fifteen years, and he is also the accompanist of a well-known male voice choir. He graduated in music at Manchester University, England, and has been a bassoonist with the Welsh National Orchestra. He also arranges music for choirs, and teaches wind instruments in secondary schools in south Wales.
Contacts
Côr Ty Tawe performs concerts in the Welsh language. If you wish to book the choir for a concert, please contact one of the members. Here are contact details of the choir’s officers:
Chair: Delyth Evans: ebost delyth@annibynwyr.org
Secretary: Elid Morris: ebost emorris@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Treasurer: Gareth Williams: ebost g_w_williams@yahoo.co.uk
Vice-secretary: Gwenan Jones: ebost gwenanbala81@hotmail.com
Vice-chair: Linda Williams: ebost linda123@talktalk.net
Tour organiser and Web officer: Heini Gruffudd: ebost heini@gruffudd.org
Concert and ticket officer: Catrin Alun: ebost catrin.alun@btinternet.com
Marketing and press officer: Rhian Jones: ebost: rhianjones@sheltercymru.org.uk
Conductor: Helen Gibbon: helen@gibbon29@fsnet.co.uk