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History of the Choir
Formed in 1964, the Cardiff Ardwyn Singers, from the capital of Wales, have become a formidable choral force on the National and world stage, under their Musical Director, Helena Braithwaite MBE.
The choir has toured widely in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Hungary, Barbados and South Africa. In the world's finest cathedrals and concert halls, the Ardwyn Singers have, through their music, been keen ambassadors of Wales. They have represented Britain in the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Edmonton, Canada, and prior to this, sang for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey.
Cardiff Ardwyn Singers are busy with concerts and recordings throughout the year and also combine with other choirs to perform in 'Opera for All' concerts and large choral works. At the 10th Welsh Proms they were part of the chorus for the highly acclaimed performance of 'Elijah' under the baton of Owain Arwel Hughes.
The choir has made many television, radio and commercial recordings. Gilbert Kaplan invited them to be part of the chorus in Mahler's Second Symphony with the LSO, which was number one in the British Top 10 CD charts for 52 weeks. More recently they have recorded a CD of hymns and carols by Vaughan Williams. A novel venture for the Ardwyn Singers arose when Cartwn Cymru needed a choir to record backing music, composed by John Hardy, for a cartoon of the bible story 'David and Saul', which was broadcast on BBC2 and S4C
Acclaimed for its extraordinary musical and artistic quality, the choir is noted for what has become known as the 'Ardwyn Sound', created by a blend of experience and youth.
Renowned for its empathy with audiences, the choir appeals to all tastes. The repertoire is wide, ranging from Renaissance to 20th Century music and includes both Welsh and International folk songs. The choir has given numerous first performances of works by contemporary Welsh composers, including several works by their former President, Professor William Mathias, and Alun Hoddinott's 'Poetry of the Earth' which was commissioned by Helena Braithwaite for the choir's 30th Anniversary celebrations.
The high standards of the Choir are reflected in premier prizes and successes in European Festivals, significantly the Llangollen International Eisteddfod (the first Welsh mixed choir to win in 40 years), the Cork International Festival and the Stuttgart Festival. In 1996 it was the only choir to be awarded the Gold Medal in the 75th British Festival of Festivals.
Cardiff Ardwyn Singers are busy with concerts, television, radio and commercial recordings. They have performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, conductors and soloists, notably Bryn Terfel, Luciano Pavarotti and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Update 1997-2000
1997
1997 was a busy year during which the Cardiff Ardwyn Singers performed 'Elijah' at the Royal Albert Hall, London; with Sarah Brightman at the Cardiff International Arena; Carmina Burana and the Welsh Proms at St David's Hall, Cardiff; and 'A Boy was Born' by Benjamin Britten at Llandaff Cathedral.
1998
January 1st - Helena Braithwaite awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours for her service to Music in Wales.
February 5th - Helena receives the MBE from H M Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, London.
16th - Television programme for HTV
March 1st - St David's Day concert - Ebenezer Church, Cardiff.
April 9th - 25th - Easter Tour of South Africa with concerts at the Rand Easter show in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Paarl, Outdshoorn and Cape Town.
May 16th - Nelson Mandela was made Freeman of the City of Cardiff in the Castle grounds. Mr Mandela stopped to dance as the choir sang African Folksongs and the New African Anthem.
June 26th - Live TV performance of African songs for the 'Wales Tonight' monthly news review.
July 17th - Welsh Proms 1998 - Europrom - with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rita Cullis, Ameral Gunson, Ian Caley and Stephen Gadd. Bruckner 'Te Deum' and Beethoven 'Symphony no. 9 (Choral)'
22nd - Welsh Proms 1998 - Opera Prom with Lesley Garrett, John Hudson and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes at St David's Hall, Cardiff.
September 19th - Recording at HTV studios for 'Llwyfan' produced by Opus.
27th - Lord Mayor's reception for Civic Dignitaries at City Hall, Cardiff.
Programme of International folk songs.
October 4th - NATHE conference - Moat House Hotel - after dinner performance of Welsh Music for an International audience.
November 15th - St David's Hall. Charity performance for the Snowdonia appeal.
December 12th - 'Music for Voices and Brass' at Llandaff Cathedral, including the first Weslh performance of De Profundis by John Hardy and Rutter's 'Gloria'.
1999
February 6th - The choir's second charity performance for the British Heart Foundation at the University Hospital of Wales
20th - Football Association of Wales Dinner for International Delegates - performance of International and Welsh folk songs
26th - 28th St David's Day tour of West Wales
26th - Charity, memorial concert in Laugharne
27th - Charity Rotary Club concert in Carmarthen
April 27th - Community Awards - invitation from Lord Mayor to perform at award ceremony.
June 19th - 'Summertime and All That Jazz' with Eric Wetherall Trio at the University Concert Hall, Corbett Road, Cardiff
July 17th - Welsh Proms - performance of Mozart's 'Requiem' at St David's Hall with Owain Arwel Hughes
November 21st - Russell Sheppard Memorial Concert, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea
CD Recording session for choir 'Choral Tribute'
December 11th - Christmas Concert - All Saints Church, Penarth
2000
January Dennis O'Neill (Choir President) awarded CBE in the New Year Honours
March 3rd - Charity performances for 'Save the Children' Fund
10th - Winter Prom - St David's Hall
25th - Baha'i Oratorio (First Performance) - Brangwyn Hall, Swansea and recorded for CD/Video with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales
April 10th - AHUA National Conference at Hilton Hotel, Cardiff - after dinner performance of madrigals, motets and international folk songs.
May 5th - J. C. Evans Memorial Concert, St Basil's, Bassaleg, Newport
20th - Wedding Service at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff
July 20th - Welsh Proms 'Crown Imperial' with Owain Arwel Hughes
22nd - Welsh Proms 'Dream of Gerontius' - Elgar
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