California Welsh Choir on Tour in Washington State and B.C.
By EIFION WILLIAMS
The Welsh Choir of Southern California (Cor Cymraeg De Califfornia) will sing at several venues in Washington State and British Columbia at the end of June, with part of the proceeds going to local charities. The Choir describes the planned events as "Wandering through Wales, a magical tour of Wales in word and song."
The non-denominational multi-ethnic mixed choir was formed in 1997 and sings a wide range of Welsh music, including hymns, folk songs, anthems and popular songs. The choir members, drawn together by a love and appreciation of Welsh music are dedicated to spreading the glories of Welsh music and culture worldwide through performance and recordings. The choir regularly performs two-thirds of its program in the Welsh language.
The choir's conductor is Frank Evan Williams who, in addition to being musical director of the choir, is currently organist/choirmaster at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in San Diego. He has 25 years experience conducting church, community and high school choirs in Washington, California and Missouri.
The accompanist is Dr. Hojun Lee, who has toured extensively in the U.S., Europe, and Korea and has taught music at Kalamazoo College, Western Michigan University and UCLA.
The choir will also feature some noted Southern California and Northwest artists. The narrator is Linda Slade, originally from Merthyr Tydfil and a graduate of Cambridge University and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. The tenor soloist is Andrew Scott, a native of North Beach, California, who has sung with the Sacramento and Pasadena Opera companies.
There will also be two harp soloists: Naomi Kato, who has played with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera, and Duncan-born Gwyneth Evans, who is well-known for her many performances on Vancouver Island. Also participating will be percussionist Tim Helming, who performs regularly with the Tacoma Opera, the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Symphony.
The Welsh Choir of Southern California will appear at Seattle's Trinity Episcopal Church on June 26, with proceeds going to Northwest Harvest, which distributes food to around 300 hunger programs in Washington State. This will be followed by a performance at St. Aidan's Church, Camano Island on June 27, with proceeds to the Stanwood Camano Food Bank.
On the evening of June 28 the Choir will perform in Vancouver at St. James Anglican Church on Cordova Street. Proceeds of this concert will go towards the St. James Music Academy, which offers free music education to children from families with limited financial resources in Vancouver's Lower Eastside. The Choir's final concert will be held on June 29 at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island.
While in Vancouver on June 28, the Choir will be welcomed at a lunch held at the Cambrian Hall by the Vancouver Welsh Society. The Victoria Welsh Society also plans a barbecue for the visitors during their visit to Vancouver Island. For more information on all the above events visit: www.welshchoir.com.
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