Members

Musical Director - Ralph Williams

 

Ralph Williams was born in Rhymney in 1940 and apart from the three years spent in teacher training, has lived in Rhymney all his life. He was educated at Rhymney Grammar School and St. Lukes College, Exeter. He became a teacher at the Rhymney Grammar School/Comprehensive School in 1966 and remained there until his retirement in August 1997. He has been involved in the musical activities of Rhymney since he was a child. He was conductor of the Rhymney Ladies Choir from 1966 until 1973 and has long links with the Rhymney Silurian Male Choir. He joined them as a schoolboy in 1958 and learned much from the then conductor, the late Mr. Glynne Jones. In 1969 he was appointed as the Choir's conductor and over the years has been successful in numerous eisteddfodau and has taken the Choir on concert tours to many European countries. He was the founder of the Rhymney Millenium Choral in 2000.

 

Accompanist - Ashleigh Powell

 

The new accompanist of the Choir is the young and talented Ashleigh Powell. When we hear so much criticism of the younger members of our society it is rerwarding to see that we can sometimes be over pessimistic and overlook the positive signs before us. Ashleigh lives in Aberbargoed with his parents and younger brother who is also a musician. Ashleigh attended Heolddu Comprehensive School, Bargoed,and for his "A" levels at the Gwent College in Cross Keys. He was heavily involved with the  musical scene at the college together with various groups in the Caerphilly County Borough including County Jazz and Youth Orchestra. Ashleigh is a very talented musician and we look forward to his long association with the Choir. Ashleigh studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff and in 2011 was awarded his B.Mus 2:1 Honours degree in Music.

 

Deputy Musical Director - Dr. Iestyn Harding

 

A native of Rhymney, Iestyn showed early musical promise with his membership of the Rhymney Band under the late Richard Nash. Progress continued on the trombone culminating with membership of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He gained his B.Mus. from the Guildhall School of Music where he studied with Simon Willis and Eric Crees winning the Harry Mortimer Brass Band Prize. Iestyn moved back to Rhymney in 1998 and joined the Silurians as a chorister. In 1999 he was employed by the Caerphilly County Borough Council as a peripatetic music teacher whilst achieving a distinction in his M.A. from Bristol University. 2009 saw Iestyn achieve his Ph.D whilst studying with Geoff Poole at Bristol. As a composer, Iestyn has had music performed by COMA, Endmion, Four Counties Youth Orchestra, IXION, Okeanos, the Schubert Ensemble, the Silurians and the Welsh Sinfonia. In 2004 Iestyn was appointed as Deputy Musical Director of the Rhymney Silurian Male Choir. 

 

                                               Executive Committee

Honorary President - Elwyn Morgan MBE

Chairman - Brian Roberts        

Vice Chairman & PRO - Neil Protheroe

Honorary Secretary - F Bernard Jenkins

Treasurer - Neil Protheroe

Transport Officer - F. Bernard Jenkins

Registrar - John Williams

Committee Members - Len Dykes, Kevyn Price, Michael Lewis, Ellis Lewis

200 Club Organiser - F. Bernard Jenkins

Stage Manager - Wayne Hopkins         

Librarian - Huw Jones

Memorial Roll of Honour

Mr. Harry Breen , Mr. Percy Caswell, Mr. Bert Cumstone, Mr. David Edwards, Mr. David Jones, Mr. Glynne Jones, Mr. Tom E. Owen, Mr. Ellis Davies, Mr. Mel Davies, Mrs. Myfanwy Jones, Mr. Havard B. Jones, Mr. Geraint M. Morris, Mr. Tudor Richards.

Life Members:

Mr. Ken Birch, Mrs. Maureen Dallimore, Mr. Ben Jones,  Mr. Alun Moseley, Mr. Brian Roberts, Mr. Brian Russell, Mr. Ralph Williams.

Current Members Of The Choir:

First Tenors:  Ken Baynham, Terry Davies, Mike Jones, Mike Lewis, Steven Lewis, Bill Mutton, John Williams.

Second Tenors:  Terry Baker, Len Dykes, F. Bernard Jenkins, Huw Jones, Stephen Rees, David Rudd, Ralph Thomas, Dawson Williams, Royston Hill.

First Bass:  Dennis Buckley, Andrew Davies, Alan Fisher, Mike Greaney, Iestyn Harding, Tim Jones, Ellis Lewis, Ivor Price, Lyndon Southgate, Alun Williams.

Second Bass:   Wayne Hopkins, Viv Jenkins, Phillip G. Jones, John Owen, Kevyn Price, D. Neil Protheroe, Brian Roberts, Neville Shepherd, Paul Thomas.