An evening of music at the Dylan Thomas Centre

On Friday the 17th of February, the Dylan Thomas Centre will host an evening of wonderful music organised by the Wales International Academy of Voice (WIAV).

The concert will feature students from WIAV singing a wide repertoire of songs and is in aid of their forthcoming trip to the United States of America. They will also be joined by Pembroke-based choir Bella Voce who will be making a guest appearance in the concert.

Bella Voce is a 16-piece female choir based in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.  Formed in 2014 they have quickly developed a reputation for the variety and quality of their repertoire.  Inspired and led by their director, Sarah Benbow, and accompanied by the multi-talented Seimon Morris, the choir is almost entirely comprised of teachers, counting six secondary, five primary and four peripatetic teachers amongst their ranks.

2016 saw them perform with the Three Welsh Tenors – Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys Jenkins, with Goodwick Brass Band at St Davids Cathedral and with Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.  In 2018 they will be performing solo at the Royal Albert Hall, London with the Festival of Massed Male Voices.  Television appearances include Katherine Jenkins’ Home for Christmas on BBC1 and S4C’s Noson Lawen.

WIAV is based in Cardiff and is part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). Recognising his earlier success in the field, the newly formed UWTSD invited Dennis O’Neill to establish an International Academy of Voice, a centre of vocal excellence and to locate it in Wales, an ideal environment justly famous as ‘the land of song’ the starting point for so many internationally successful singers.

WIAV provides a highly specialised and unique environment for a small number of exceptional singers at the early-professional stage, selected and recruited globally, to develop and polish their talent to the highest professional standards. The best coaches, language experts and vocal technicians are complemented by visiting eminent conductors and national and international stars from the Operatic world.

Opened in 1825, the Dylan Thomas Centre, in Swansea’s Maritime Quarter, is one of the city’s most iconic buildings. In 2011, the University of Wales took over the lease of the building and has significantly invested in renovations at the Centre. Now a multi-purpose and multi-occupancy venue open to host a range of events and functions, the new facilities at the Centre include incubation space for businesses that are interested in establishing presence in Swansea, a warm and welcoming Coffee Shop, and 1825 Conferences & Events.

Euros Rhys Evans, WIAV’s Academic Director commented:

“It is a great honour for WIAV to perform at this prestigious venue in Swansea, and we are thoroughly looking forward to sharing the platform with such a highly acclaimed choir, Bella Voce. It will, I’m sure be a very memorable concert.”

Tickets for the concert are available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/333867 or directly from WIAV. For more details please ring 029 2049 3139.