This is what the previous visitors to the Pontarddulais Male Choir website had to say:
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Roy and Trish Bulley
Rated Site:
Posted:
Friday 11th April 2008 at 2:59:31 pm
Thanks for your friendly welcome last Wednesday evening (our second visit). The rendition of Nidaros was much appreciated and took us back to the late 50s when it was the staple diet of Pendyrus (Trish's father's choir). looking forward to seeing you once again when you perform in Bury St Edmunds. All the best!
Really pleased to be find your website. Have many happy memories of going to your concerts and also visiting Pontarddulais some 20 odd years ago with a friend. We used to stay with a choir member who is no longer with us and used to have some enjoyable evenings at the Fountain. Glad to see that you are still successful.
Hello Choir,
I found your site by accident whilst surfing the net.what a magificent collection of voices.I have been around music all my life in various ways and love to hear about choirs achievements a most excellent site.
Please thank all your choir members for a superb evening. What a priviledge for us all to hear such quality singing. So many of the band were very impressed, including the non singers. It never ceases to amaze me how, after 15 years of a similar event, the masses keep returning. There were 75 names on a reserve list for tickets. It has been proposed that we take the venue to Gloucester cathedral in future! I so enjoyed the 'entertainment' in the bar too, it reminded me of my Cardiff university days.
Regards to you all,
Mary Wrenn
Head Of Music
As one of the Main Sponsors for the concert you did on 1st March at Newent school I would like to say thank you for a fantastic evening. it was the first time my wife and i had heard a Welsh Male Voice Choir and it wont be the last.
We would like to congratulate the Choir for such a magnificent performance last night the like of which we have not heard for many a long day as Welsh exiles, Pianist and Conductor, what a combination.
I attended your concert at the Armstrong Hall in Thornbury on Saturday night and I would like to say thank you for an excellent evening of entertainment. Never before had I seen a live Male Voice Choir and Saturday's event far exceeded all my expectations. The sound was simply superb.
What an extremely enjoyable concert at the Armstrong Hall,Thornbury. I have seen the Welsh choirs for many years but you certainly surpassed them all. Thank you for a superb evening.
I have just returned from your performance at the Armstrong Hall, Thornbury. I took my mother and it is the first time we have attended such a concert. What a wonderful experience, we both absolutely loved it and would like to thank you all. Clive was very entertaining - we did buy a cd! and Anna was brilliant. We liked the mixture of songs and the cadence and precision of the singers. We will definitely come to see you again if we get the chance.
Posted:
Wednesday 26th December 2007 at 10:26:17 am
The Tribute to Dennis O'Neill Concert will be broadcasted at 9pm on Sunday 30 December on S4C. Repeat Broadcasts will be at 8.25 pm on Thursday 3rd January 2008 on S4C and 4.40pm on Sunday 6th January S4C Digital
One of the ladies in my church choir is from Wales, and just last week she gave my one of your CDs (Softly As I Leave You). I never heard of you before that, and I had no idea of the rich tradition of Welsh Male choirs. Listening to you guys sing has touched my soul, and makes me wish that we had a similiar tradition here.
I can't believe that I just missed your US tour. I hope that you get back this way again, for I will certainly be in the audience.
To the Bont Choir, Many, many thanks for the complimentary letter to Avery Transportation and the wonderful CDs. You can't know how much my whole family is enjoying them. My wife sincerely regrets that she didn't have the opportunity to attend one of the choir's performances. I have to say again what a pleasure it was to be with all of you...it was like being among ''one big happy family'' for a week. I will always remember how impressed I was to be with so many gentlemen that shared such great camaraderie as well as enormous talent.
Once again, I thank you and please extend my thanks to the choir....Please let me know if, and when, you all come to the states again.
My wife (Anne) and I would like to thank the choir members, Clive Phillips, Rachel and Gary for the Bethlehem concert on October 16 which brought us so much pleasure. To have an evening of authentic and outstanding Welsh music was a real treat.
Anne was born and brought up in Mountain Ash and I in Barry but have been away many years, so to have this visit come to our doorstep was wonderful.
You may not know of him now but my grandfather was Professor Thomas Jones, originally from Aberdare, who himself had a successful musical career and amongst other things was conductor of the Welsh National Orchestra for a spell and led the Barry Municipal Orchestra to a number of Eisteddfod wins.
Please accept our best wishes for the choir's continuing success, and our warmest thanks for the effort made on this trip to the United States.
Your New York concert on October 22nd was more wonderful than I ever expected. I'm so glad I heeded the advice of a fellow New Jersey Choral Society member and attended. I laughed, I cried and that was just for the performance. Talking socially with the chorus members was a wonderful experience, too. Thank you so much for your effort. I'm a real fan now.
Helo, Cyfeillion! Dw i'n siwr eich bod chi wedi dychwelyd i Gymru wedi blino, ond gan llawer o gofion hapus! Roeddech chi wedi canu fel angylion, a roeddech chi wedi roi anrheg arbennig i bawb. Dw i wedi cael fy adnewyddu - yn wir, dw i'n meddwl, ''Unwaith eto i'r dreigiau!'' - efallai, fe fydda i'n gwneud y cystadleuaeth unawd soprano y flwddyn 'na. (Dim problem gan yr aria Marguerite oddi wrth Faust - mae rhaid i fi archebu'r ''test piece'' cofoesol.) Diolch unwaith eto. Helo i Arthur Williams a'r ''quartet'' yn y pub, sy wedi cael ei arwain gan y dyn ifanc, 81! Colleen
Fred & I Would Like to tell you what a Great Time we had driving your choir on your U.S.A. tour. WE will long remeber it as one of the best .thank you for a great time Bill
To Clive and all members.
Your concert last night in NYC was amazing! The varied dynamics, crisp wording and overall harmonies must be heard to be believed. There were parts so sweet that tears were in my eyes. You are a wonderful group and I wish you all God's speed in future endevores.
Thank you,
Richard Eiden
Tenor 2 - New Jersey Choral Society
Just finished unpacking.
A short note to all those who travelled for their cooperation and patience.
Of all the tours that i have gone on over the last 30 years, this tops them all.
A big thank you to the backroom team, from Keith and his gang sorting out the CD sales, up to Clive and Rachel for their preperation of the 'on stage' performances. My personal favourite was the New York concert. I have never been involved in such a warm and friendly atmosphere before, and that evening will live long in the memory. Gary Griffiths told me he felt the same, and that despite the acoustics being less than suitable, the connection with the audience made up for that in spades!
Big up to Lyn for all his hard work. I know that if he had hair, he would have surely torn it out at certain times in the run up to the trip.
Off to an 'eat as much as you like' supper now, so see you all in practice soon.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CHOIR:
I'M SORRY, I WASN'T ABLE TO SPEND YOUR LAST DAY IN AMERICA WITH YOU. I WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW PROUD AND HONORED I AM TO HAVE HELPED ARRANGE YOUR TRIP TO THE USA.
YOUR MUSIC SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.OUTSTANDIN!!!!!!!!!
THE CHOIR'S PERSONALITIES AND INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE CERTAINLY PROVES THAT WALES IS ''THE LAND OF SONG''
IT ALSO REINFORCES IN ME THE RIGHT, TO SAY PROUDLY AND LOUD ''I AM WELSH''
YOUR FRIEND, TED FRUTCHEY
Thank you for a glorious evening of song (and incredible piano accompaniment) in NYC Monday night. I was feeling down and a Welsh friend, Colleen Kennedy, called and said, ''Come listen.'' I'm so thankful I did. I visited Hay-on-Wye over 30 years ago. Well after tonight, I'm ready to retire to Wales, because (as corny as it may sound), ''The hills are (indeed) alive with the sound of music.'' Diolch yn fawr. God Bless you all.
Very much enjoyed the concert in New York tonight. Come again soon. Brought along several fellow members of the New Jersey Choral Society and they were all enthusiastic. Maybe we'll get to Wales some day . . . http://www.njcs.org
Just listen to the choir in Washington, DC and afterwards at Chef Geoff and what a priviledge that was. Thank you boys - you made this Welsh girl happy with Calon Lan and finally you made me cry with Myfanwy ... Thank you many times over - I had a lovely time. And remember it was me that said you could all come over to my house ...
I'm such a big fan of these brilliant boys now....the singing was only one aspect of it and I've enjoyed all concerts I could attend on their tour through NEPA on down to NYC. I really have seen Wales through their eyes, and the cameraderie at the pubs between themsleves and fans present has been an overwhelmingly lovely experience - always to be cherished!
Gobeithio eich bod chi cael amser hyfryd! Mae'n amlwg o'r negeseuon i gyd eich bod chi'n boblogaidd iawn yna! Dim sypreis i ni!! Mwynhewch gweddil eich taith!
Bethan a Chris (merch a mab-yng-nghyfraith Dewi)
Posted:
Wednesday 17th October 2007 at 11:33:25 pm
It was a joy to host you for dinner at East Hills Moravian Church on October 16, 2007. As those of you who dined at my table already know, I had never before been properly introduced to Welsh culture, language or tradition. Boy, oh boy, did that change on Tuesday evening! Suddenly, I find myself cruising web sites looking for vacation opportunities in your beautiful land among your beautiful people.
Oh, and by the way, you sing well, too! Though I had a previous engagement, I cut it short so that I might catch a bit of your Bethlehem concert. I'm so very glad I did. Thank you for the music!
I immensly enjoyed your performance in Bethlehem on the night of October 16th. I'm very thankful a friend invited me to embark on such a remarkable, new musical experience. Kudos as well to the Bangor Marching Band along with all of your performers. I've been to Ireland once. Now I guess you could say, I have witnessed many reasons to expand my horizons.
We did so enjoy your concert in Betlehem, Pa. last evening. Looking forward to your return for an encore performance in the future. Reminded me of my childhood when my Grandfather
Thomas Joseph Jones would sing to
me and encourage me to do the same.
He was born in Cardiff and came to the states when a young lad.
Wonderful concert Oct. 16, 2007 in Bethlehem, Pa- thanks to all who made it possible. Everything was terrific-dictation, phrasing. dynamics, etc. Thank you for sharing your talent for and love of music
with us.
We attended your Scranton concert and Wilkes Barre Gymanfa this past weekend.Your choir is most likely the best male choir in the world!Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us.We had the pleasure of attending one of your rehersals on a trip to Wales and can appreciate the dedication and hard work and fine leadership that contributes to your success.
I attended your concert in Scranton on October 13th. I was there with my friend who had been in Wales for over three weeks in September. She had the pleasure of visiting one of your choir practices while she was there. She ask me if I would like to go with her to your Scranton concert and I'm glad I did. What a nice performance. How nice of you to start the show with The Star Spangled Banner! I think everyone in the place was singing with you. We can now tell our friends that we sang with The World Renowned Pontarddulais Male Choir!
My friend got to talk to some of the guys that she met while sitting in on your practice in Wales. She got hugs and kisses from all of them. I even got a kiss from one. Thank you for a very nice and musical evening.
You're TWO (2) Performances here in NE PA were envigorating, exciting and absolutely EXILARATING! The chaps who shared a few pints at ''Molly Brannigans'' on Saturday & then the Radisson on Sunday were wonderful to speak to! What a JOY! The ''Gymanfa Ganu'' was like being in heaven! What a wonderful time! Hope to see you in 2009 when I viit Wales