Click
on the link to see photos of the four
sections of our choir.
Musical Director: Matthew
Ioan Sims.
Matthew is a Master of Arts
graduate from the University of Wales
Trinity Saint David, where he studied
voice under the guidance of
International Tenor Dennis O’Neill. He
has performed at many
concert venues and has
participated in
Masterclasses with Dame
Kiri Te Kanawa, Dennis
O’Neill, Rebecca Evans,
Della Jones, Ryland
Davies, Peter Wilson,
Nuccia Focile and Nelly
Miricioiu. Throughout Matthew’s studies
and personal successes, he has always
had strong links to the Welsh Male
Choir tradition, including being a
past member of Only Men Aloud. It is
great to be able to combine two loves,
singing and choir, and to continue
developing / adapting music
repertoires to suit current audiences.
Matthew
is delighted to have
been appointed Musical
Director of the Gwalia
Singers and is looking
forward, with
excitement, to a long
and prosperous future
with the Choir
Accompanist: Rhian Liles
Rhian hails from Loughor, Swansea,
and after completing her studies at the
prestigious Welsh College of Music and Drama
in Cardiff, Wales' national conservatoire for
the performing arts, she obtained an honours
Music Degree (Keyboard Studies). She is now
pursuing a very successful career as a
professional accompanist and private tutor for
the piano. For more information please
go to her website.
Her
experience with the Gwalia Singers over the last
20 years has proven invaluable for her
professional career. She is particularly pleased
with being able to continue her association with
the singers now she has returned full time to
Swansea. When not involved in her music
activities, she relaxes by horse riding and has
her own horse 'Omar'. Rhian has also recently
taken up an additional career as a veterinary
nurse.
Gareth is a
product of the highly successful West Glamorgan
Youth Music system. After obtaining degrees in
Music and Education at Cardiff University,
Gareth pursued a teaching career, firstly as a
violin/viola teacher and then as a Primary
School teacher.
Gareth taught in a number of schools
across Swansea and Llanelli, before
becoming a Headteacher for fifteen years
concluding at Bishopston Primary, a school that
gained a reputation for its strong
singing, music and performance.
Whilst primarily a chorister, Gareth has
assisted the music team by playing violin and
piano, taking a number of rehearsals and
conducting a concert when required.
The Team
Matt, Rhian, Nick and
Gareth all work very hard to select a wide range
of music for us to sing. We sing in several
languages; some Welsh, mainly English but with
some other languages as well. We sing many types
of music including traditional Welsh, music from
films & shows, opera and popular music.
Not only
do they select the music but as a team they
arrange pieces into four part harmony for male
voices. The team will always give you a very
warm welcome if you would like to come and join
the choir. For details of all our future
concerts please click
here.
