The Mynyddislwyn male choir

Musical Team

Accompanist:- Richard Bourton

Richard, born in Cwmfelinfach, has spent most of his life in Pontllanfraith.
He has an obvious great talent and musical ability which has been further enhanced by his studies at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, resulting in his achieving a Licentiate Diploma in Music in 1995.

Apart from having played for other male choirs, his great skill is frequently publicly acknowledged by guest artists with the choir for whom he plays, this skill being further recognized by being invited to play for artists of international status.

His cheerful attitude and obvious talent makes him very popular with audiences, particularly with the choir who appreciate his contribution to their successes.

Assistant Accompanist:- Carys Price

Young Carys lives in Woodfieldside Blackwood just a mile from the choir's Practice Rooms in Penmain Chapel Penmaen. She joined the choir in September 2010 whilst still studying the piano and in November 2011 passed her final exams at Grade 8 with a Distinction, had the highest mark in the Cardiff area and was also given the Dorothy Grace Atkinson Award.

At this point in time Carys is studying for her Batchelor of Arts Primary Studies Degree at Caerleon University so that in September 2012 she will qualify as a teacher (QTS). She will then later study for her Diploma.

Carys has fitted in well with the choir and our Musical Team and is making great strides towards conducting the choir in concert, and is a very welcome and popular addition to the choir.

Musical Director:- Carys Wynne BA (Hons.)

Carys joined the choir as Musical Director in January 2005. Born and raised in Blackwood as a Welsh speaker, Carys is also a high achiever. Attending local Welsh medium schools, she attained 12 grade A GCSEs, going on to Crosskeys College to gain 5 A levels and then moved to Exeter University to study Drama where she attained a first class Honours Degree, together with the Dean’s Award for Excellence.

Carys has many musical attributes to offer the Mynyddislwyn Male Choir. From an early age she has competed at national level in the Urdd Eisteddfod both as a solo performer and as part of a group. She was the first student to conduct her comprehensive school choir, plays both the piano and harp and regularly plays the organ at services and weddings at her local Church. Whilst at University she was the Musical Director of the Beggar’s Opera, which involved arranging music for the orchestra and teaching apprehensive students to sing solo parts.

Carys first appeared with the choir when she presented flowers at the age of three, and she has assisted Richard at the piano for many years before taking up her position as Musical Director of the choir. Her strong passion for the arts has brought her back to Blackwood firstly as Arts Development Officer for Caerphilly County Borough Council but is now the Arts Development Manager for Blaenau Gwent, based at the newly refurbished Metropole in Abertillery.

Carys has responsibility for the programming and management of the three venues of Blaenau Gwent, namely the Beaufort Theatre, Metropole Cultural and Conference Centre in Abertillery and the Brynmawr Market Hall Cinema, as well as for the arts

development practitioners of the borough who deliver the dance, drama and visual arts outreach programme of work. This will entail her working in partnership with a number of key agencies e.g. Gwent police, Local Health Boards, Libraries to advocate for the use of the arts as a catalyst to community regeneration, health and well-being and life long learning.

This means not only identifying and securing funding for various projects and groups, but also working on a local, regional and national basis to ensure that the arts are given priority in policy and budgets because of their potential social impact.

This will involve her working with a variety of people ranging from young people at risk of offending to chief executives and politicians. This means that from day to day Carys can be giving a speech at the Senedd, in London representing Wales at the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers Executive, working with a youth project to find funding for a mural, consulting young people on the development of a youth art’s strategy; the job is highly complex but never dull! Her commitment is to Wales and to her valley home in particular, so she is therefore delighted to be now based and employed near Blackwood.

The Mynyddislwyn male choir "THE SOUND OF WALES"

Musical Team

Musical Director:- Carys Wynne BA (Hons.)

The Mynyddislwyn male choir
"THE SOUND OF WALES"