THE SPINE-TINGLING sounds of the Victorian Welsh Male Choir will echo in Ballarat this month.
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The 50-strong ensemble, which features the four-part harmony of the traditional Welsh male choir, will take to the stage alongside Ballarat’s own David Hobson.
The choir is renowned not only for the quality of its singing, but for the relaxed, informal style and good humour of its concerts.
Victorian Welsh Male Choir Ballarat Chapter first tenor Drew Hopkins said the choir’s Ballarat branch formed last year.
“Some of us had been singing in choirs for many years and others hadn’t sung for 20 or 30 years since their Sunday School days,” Mr Hopkins said.
“We sing in four-part close harmonies with the first and second tenors, the baritones and the bassists so we don’t sing many notes apart from each other which makes it very different from a mixed choir.
“We can produce a sound that a lot of people like and describe as raising the hair on the back of the neck. There’s something special about having 50 men singing loudly and making a big sound and then singing softly. It’s moving.”
With a vast repertoire, Hopkins said the choir performed everything from traditional Welsh songs in the Welsh language, 19th century hymns, contemporary Welsh pieces, famous choruses from various operas as well as songs from Broadway musicals and famous 60s songs from the likes of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Elvis, and Queen.
“Another characteristic of the Welsh Male Choir is its really diverse repertoire,” he said.
Directed by Faleiry Koczkar, the Victorian Welsh Male Choir features a main branch located in Melbourne as well as additional chapters from Bendigo and Ballarat and members from Echuca, Warragul, Linton and Werribee.
The choir is currently in its fourth decade of music-making, presenting about 25 concerts a year and regularly traveling interstate. Internationally, it has visited the UK and in 2012 it toured Wales and England.
The choir has also staged major concerts with stars like Marina Prior, Emily Burke, Roy Best, Sylvie Paladino, and flautist Jane Rutter.
This month’s Ballarat concert theme is David Hobson in a Celtic Mood and will see Hobson and the choir perform a selection of Welsh, Irish, Scottish and other songs.
The night will be the first time the newly Ballarat chapter takes to the stage with the entire choir at their hometown.
The concert will be held at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts at 7pm on October 17. Tickets cost $60. For bookings, visit www.wcpa.com.au
