Probably one of the most eventful years in the choir’s history. The founder and Musical Director, Bryan Myles, resigned from the choir together with his deputy and accompanist. This created a split in the choir and several long serving members also resigned. The Committee however was quick to rally the choir and obtained the temporary services of Hugh Rees – Deputy Musical Director of the Morriston Orpheus – who conducted the choir through a difficult patch assisted by contract accompanist, Martin Bell. The need for a more permanent accompanist was obvious and the services of a young primary school teacher, Simon Oram, were subsequently obtained. Several concerts were held under the batonship of Huw Rees and later in the year it was agreed that Simon Oram should be appointed the new Musical Director and the Mary Bessenich was appointed Accompanist.
The choir returned to the competition scene under Simon’s leadership and was successful in winning 3rd place at the Miner’s Eisteddfod.
The Annual Concert was again held at St Mary’s Church. Compered by Huw Rees, it featured Jason Bellis (Tenor), Gorseinon Chamber Choir and Dudley Owen. The choir also performed concerts in Newton, and the Dolphin Hotel.
Swansea’s Gwalia Singers presented their 1996 Annual Concert at St Mary’s Church on Friday, October 11, in celebration of their 30th anniversary.
This was their first annual concert under the baton of their new musical director, Simon Oram, who had selected a programme of mixed light and serious items in the Gwalia tradition.
The evening was compered by Huw Rees, deputy conductor of the Morriston Orpheus choir who also conducted one of the items and the communal singing at the end of the concert. The choir’s accompanist and organist was Martin Bell, assisted by Mary Bessenich. Invaluable assistance in presenting the concert was provided by the members of the Gwalias’ Ladies Section and by a band of former Gwalia Singers.
The supporting artistes brought added enjoyment to the very large audience with the fine quality of their contributions. The Gorseinon College Chamber Choir, under the direction of Les and Penelope Ryan and with harpist Nia Sian Jones, delighted everyone with their smooth, professional performance; Jason Bellis’ fine, lyrical tenor voice thrilled the audience; and Dudley Owen, ex-Gwalia Singer and now London West End performer, with his accompanist Julie Sims, brought an added touch of excellence with his excerpts from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘The Boy with a Cart’ (Christopher Fry).
The audience, including guests from Mannheim Teutonic Choir, thoroughly enjoyed an evening of ‘quality’ entertainment.
Terry Osborn was appointed Chairman.
