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The Choir

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The choir at St Peter's Prep School on 28th November 2010

















·       The Johannesburg Welsh Male Voice Choir was formed in 1988. It has a regular entourage of some 18 amateur singers under the direction of Jonathan Vieler, Music Director.
·         The choir is widely referred to as The Men in Red because of the distinctive, emblazoned jackets worn when performing together.
·         The choir sings a range of choral music in different parts for male voices, some of much loved Welsh origin and lilt with others being well known, popular song or traditional hymns, generally to piano accompaniment. In everything, the choir aims at providing a variety of choral music for entertainment.
·         A regular performance will include solos and duets amongst others.  Each selected programme is introduced by a compere, practised in story-telling and fun in support of joyful and often uplifting choral entertainment from spirituals, popular songs, show hits, opera and classics. The emphasis is generally light-hearted and, whilst most works are performed in Welsh and English, there is a South African flavour too when music is sung in Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sotho and Zulu. 
Stirring religious music and hymns in the Welsh choral tradition are also frequently sung. Thus a typical programme might include :

    Softly as I leave you - Speed your journey - When I’m Sixty-Four - The Rhythm of Life - Joseph - Any dream will do 
    Love changes everything - Do you hear the people sing - The Rose - Stout-hearted Men - You’ll never walk alone 
    Uptown Girl - The World in Union - Shosholoza - Guide me, O thou Great Jehovah - Morte Criste 
    My Lord What a morning - Shine - Calon Lan - Men of Harlech - The Welsh National Anthem - Ken jy die land ?

·         The choir exists for the joy of singing. Weekly practices on Mondays at St. Peter’s School. 
·         Many concerts have been held in the Johannesburg area over the years. Performances further afield have also been repeated for some years. Concerts most frequently involve fund-raising for good causes or add a special highlight at weddings, anniversaries, school or community events. Joint performances with other choirs are sometimes held along with appearances at churches, fetes and retirement villages in a full programme of annual activity.  
·         A compact disc entitled “The Men in Red – A Celebration in Song” is available for sale. See the next page!   

Please contact Bob Williams with any queries: bwib@telkomsa.net   also for an up to date list of concerts.