About the choir

Côr Merched Maldwyn was formed by Chairman Mair O`Gorman and founding Secretary Gay Roberts in the latter part of 2001, primarily to represent the County by competing in the prestigious 2003 National Eisteddfod when the choir was awarded third place in the Ladies Choral Competition.

The choir is conducted by Ruth Gittins, and the current membership is about 30.

The choir draws its members from a wide area of Montgomeryshire from Abermule to Llanidloes and Llangurig, from Beguildy and Llanbadarn Fynydd in Radnorshire and even from across the Shropshire border. Concerts are given within these Counties in venues such as Churches, Chapels, Community/Leisure Centres and Village Halls. The choir also sings at special events: in June 2008, the choir was very pleased to be invited by the recently elected Chairman of Powys County Council, County Councillor Viola E Evans, to sing at her inaugural Civic Service.

Repertoire

Concerts comprise items selected from the choir's extensive repertoire, including:

• Opera (excerpts)
• Oratorio (excerpts)
• Sacred music
• Folk songs
• Spirituals
• Songs from the musicals
• Popular songs

The repertoire includes works sung in English, Welsh, Latin, French and even Zulu, and in two-part, three-part and four-part harmony (SA, SSA and SSAA).

Solos and duets are normally performed by members of the choir, allowing Côr Merched Maldwyn to present a complete concert programme.

Concerts sometimes include a guest instrumentalist or vocalist. Previous guests have included:

• Alecs Peate (harp)
• Alwyn Nutting (trumpet)
• Michael Brennan (Bass)

If at all possible, we try to invite a young musician (school age) from the locality where we are performing to join us in concert.

Rehearsals

Choir rehearsals are held at the Evangelical Church, Newtown, Powys on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 until 9.00. We normally only rehearse during term-time.

Competition successes

In addition to being awarded a creditable third place in the Ladies Choral Competition of the 2003 National Eisteddfod, the choir has won:

• First prize in the Ladies Choir competition at the Powys Eisteddfod in 2010
• First prize in the Open Choir competition at the Kerry Eisteddfod for four years (2004 - 2007)
• Second prize in the Open Choir competition at the Minsterley Eisteddfod in 2007, where we were presented with the cup for the Ladies Choir section of the Open Choir competition