Welsh born Mari Morgan to conduct Cymanfa Ganu in NZ

Welsh born Mari Morgan of Llanelli and Pennsylvania to conduct Cymanfa Ganu in New Zealand

The Welsh Society of Wellington will welcome Mari Morgan as guest conductor at the Festival of Singing or, in Welsh Cymanfa Ganu, to be held at the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul at 2 pm on Sunday 23 October 2016.

Festivals of singing are a tradition in Wales, almost as popular as Male Voice Choirs. Called, in Welsh, ‘Cymanfa Ganu’ they are normally held in Churches or Chapels and provide the congregation with an opportunity to sing in an impromptu choir of nearly 1,000 voices. The songs are popular Welsh hymns, sung in Welsh or English (your choice) to traditional Welsh tunes. It is not a devotional service.

Mari Morgan the guest conductor was born near Llanelli in South Wales, she now lives in North America. Mari toured New Zealand with her 'North American Welsh Choir' in 2013 and charmed audiences with her passion and love of Welsh music. She has extensive qualifications, much experience and a very successful musical career. To have a fluent Welsh speaker and a person ensconced in choirs, music and singing will give a momentum and an impetus that will, in all probability, be similar to the singing that will 'raise the roof' as it does at Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Mari will make us all feel that a part of Wales will be with us in song, spirit - passion and heritage!

A choral conductor, Mari founded the North American Welsh Choir, Côr Cymry Gogledd America in 1997 becoming its Artistic Director and Conductor. As the ‘Community Choir that spans a Continent,’ Côr Cymry's far-flung choristers were among the first to use the Internet to learn music and language, and to keep abreast of choir activities. Under Mari’s direction, the choir toured Wales, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand as well as locations across the USA, including performances for the Smithsonian in Washington DC and 9/11 remembrance in New York to honour the British lives lost.

The singing will be supported by organist Bruce Cash. Bruce, the conductor of the Wellington Male Voice Choir, is a versatile choral and orchestral conductor and performs and teaches the organ, harpsichord and piano. He has been a Cathedral organist in England, Germany and New Zealand. Bruce will also be our organ soloist.

To give the congregation a break, you will be entertained by some excellent choral singing. The Cymanfa Ganu is supported by the Wellington Male Voice Choir, a choir with an interest in Welsh choral music and the Cantala Choir from Wellington East Girls' College. An exciting programme!

ENDS

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