The choir performed at All Souls Annual Summer Concert. The following review (which can also be found at All Souls website, www.allsoulstycoch.org.uk)  was written by Graham Williams, with photos by Alayne Jenkins:

“All Souls never fails to extend the warmest of welcomes to regulars and newcomers alike, and given the fact that this year’s Summer Concert was hosted by none other than everyone’s friend and Vicar, Phillip Gwynn, it was clear that we were in for a particularly warm and amusing reception.

This year’s guests, the Gwalia Singers – accompanied by pianist Rhian Liles – performed a fabulously varied selection, ranging from traditional Welsh hymns such as Gwahoddiad a Tydi a Roddaistright through to a highly effective arrangement of the Robbie Williams hit Angylion – a song which I have always loathed, so much so in fact that I almost caught myself groaning when I spotted it listed in the programme; so it says much for the Gwalias that this turned out to be one of their most powerful pieces during the evening.

In a week which has seen so much publicity regarding Live 8 and poverty throughout Africa, the choice of Enoch Sontonga’s African Prayer was an especially wise one and packed a real emotional punch – but there were also some splendidly jolly bits of nonsense such as The Drummer and the Cook and a swinging arrangement of Sospan Fach.

Musical director Simon Oram proved to be a genuinely pleasant, likeable and informative character and one with a direct link to Sketty Primary School Choir, for it was he who composed their well-loved showstopper –When Will I See You Again – a song of which I for one never tire, performed here with real insight and compassion by these talented youngsters along with Sing, Sing a Song and the heart-rending favourite, We Are The Young.

As regulars of All Souls will be aware, both We Are The Young a When Will I See You Again were recorded by the choir at Taliesin Arts Centre for a CD which has to date raised £1,500 for the Machakos Diocese of Kenya.

The children also performed a delightful arrangement of O-Bla-Di O-Bla-Da, the Lennon/McCartney number which had (in response to the query from the choir’s musical director Lynda Richards) originally been recorded by Marmalade… I think!

All in all, this – the second All Souls Summer Concert and now destined to become an annual event – proved to be a real triumph and ended on a high note as Anna Jenkins and Naomi Eagle (the oldest and youngest members of Sketty Primary School Choir) presented flowers to Lynda Richards and Rhian Liles, while Simon Oram received a presentation from Church Warden Celia Hall. 

Phillip Gwynn also acknowledged the hard work of the Fund Raising Committee, who had done so much behind the scenes putting this concert together.

Yet another successful event not simply for All Souls itself, but for the wider community of Tycoch – a community which seems to be pulling together in a way that could not have been imagined just a few short years ago.”

Concerts were also performed at Penmaen House, St Benedict’s Church and St Peter’s Church. The choir sang alongside the ladies group Vivace, at the Bishopston Church Floral Festival where funds were donated to Tsunami appeal.

The Annual Concert was held in All Saint’s Church, Oystermouth and featured the Hywel Girl’s Choir from Llanelli and local tenor – Jonathan Lycett and Dudley Owen compered it.

Clive Walters was appointed Chairman.