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The world-renowned Welsh Morriston Orpheus is coming to Geneva on 11 October 2008. This is the first time that a professional Welsh male choir will have ever performed in Geneva. Headed by British pianist Joy Amman Davies with Catrin Aur Davies as accompanying soloist, the 100-strong male choir is on Swiss tour as part of its support for Eclat, an association for handicapped people. This is an opportunity not to be missed to see a choir that has performed to wide acclaim from the Sydney Opera House in Australia to Carnegie Hall in New York. Its repertoire ranges from traditional Welsh ballads to Broadway classics. Tickets (45-125 CHF) are available at www.concert-morriston-orpheus.1s.fr or Tel. 41-79-507-2153.

 

The Choir was formed on 23rd April 1935 by Ivor E Sims and, in its early days concentrated primarily on competitions and local concerts. In 1937 the Choir achieved its first success at the Royal National Eisteddfod in Machynlleth, going on to win at the "National" on 6 further occasions. Although many years have passed since the Choir last sang in competitions, its present members do not forget the eminence which their predecessors achieved and they constantly strive for the musical excellence in which audiences at home and overseas delight.

Over the years, successive Musical Directors have developed and broadened the repertoire. Variety is now the hallmark of the Choir's performances which include arrangements by Alwyn Humphreys M.B.E., Musical Director from 1979 to January 2005. The Choir enjoys an international reputation as a leading exponent of male choral singing. Within the United Kingdom the Choir is in constant demand with around 25 engagements a year, including concerts, TV and after-dinner performances. Although a registered charity and financially self supporting, much of its work is devoted to assisting local and national good causes, at home and overseas, such as Leukaemia Research, NCH Action for Children, RNLI, Royal National Eisteddfod, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Save the Children Fund.

The Choir regularly undertakes concert tours overseas and has been received enthusiastically in several visits to the major cities of Australia and New Zealand - including standing ovations at their appearances at the world famous Sydney Opera House. The Choir's latest trip down under, which included their first concert in Dubai, en route, was in April 2007. In 2004 the Orpheus undertook two ground breaking tours to Taiwan and to Abu Dhabi and Oman.

Highlights of previous overseas tours have included four appearances at British Military Tattoos and Concerts in the former West Berlin, participating at the International Choral Festivals in Nancy, France, and Toronto, Canada, representing Wales at Expo '92 in Seville, Spain, and becoming in 1996, the first British choir to perform at the International Choral Festival in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In October 2001, the Independent on Sunday reported that the Choir received "five standing ovations" at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York. Closer to home, the Choir has performed in a variety of venues ranging from chapels and village halls to cathedrals and concert halls. Choristers remember with delight performances in great cathedrals and concert venues and their regular appearances at Swansea's famous Brangwyn Hall.

They do not, however, forget the smaller venues which can provide a warm and friendly welcome. The Choir features regularly on TV. Its recordings (over 50) are in great demand on radio programmes. Successful ventures into the "pop" world have included recordings with chart-topping T'Pau and the Welsh Group, The Alarm (See the Videos on YouTube Clip One, Clip Two).

Current recordings are available to purchase from our online shop. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Choir has a long-standing policy of encouraging young Welsh singers through an annual competition organised by the Morriston Orpheus Choir Supporters' Association (MOCSA) In 2005 the choir appointed Sian Pearce to replace Alwyn Humphreys who had decided to retire after serving the Choir since 1979. Sian left the Choir in June 2007 and the Choir's respected former accompanist, Joy Amman Davies, took on the role of Musical Director.