Côr Meibion Gwent Musical Team

Musical Director  ---  John Jolley John started his musical career in the Isle of Man where he was born. He studied piano from the age of eight with Mona Goldsmith and at fourteen he studied the organ with George Tootell F.R.C.O., Doctor of Music. At the age of fifteen he was appointed the Organist and choirmaster of Loch Parade Methodist Church, Douglas in January 1953. As a member of the Douglas Town Band since the age of nine, he was accepted into Her Majesty’s forces as principal euphonium with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Staff Band; also playing piano, string bass, trombone, and when required, the pipe organ. He remained there for a period of eight years. After army service he became a professional musician, and worked with many of the top names in the entertainment business. In the mid sixties John came to Wales, demonstrating the “Hammond Organ”, and studied singing at the Cardiff College of Music with Gerald Davies. He also studied privately with Jenny Maud (a principal soprano with the Covent Garden Opera, under Sir Thomas Beecham pre second World War). During the 1980’s, was involved with two of the brass bands of Torfaen as Musical Director: Blaenavon Town Band and Pontypool Brass. From 1992 he became the Musical Director of Newport Male Voice Choir, and stayed with them for five years until he gave it up due to a bout of ill health. In March 1996, John took over the Blaenavon Ladies Choir, and still with them after ten years. He has also been associated with Garndiffaith Gleemen for eight years. During the recent Côr Meibion Gwent tour of Canada in August 2006, in addition to John singing with the top tenor sector, he also acted as compere, appeared as a tenor soloist at some concerts, and occasionally played the organ, to supplement the piano for some of the hymns and choral items. John was appointed as Musical Director of Côr Meibion Gwent Male Choir in October 2006, and he is looking forward to adding new songs to the choir repertoire, and touring with the choir.

Deputy Musical Director --- Hazel Matthews Hazel Matthews BEd (Hons) Hazel graduated with a Batchelor of Education degree, from the University of Wales College, Newport, in 1996. Since then she has worked in many schools, as a supply teacher and teaches pianoforte and singing as a private teacher. She was the Musical Director of Newport Male Voice Choir for two years. She has been Deputy Musical Director of Côr Meibion Gwent Male Choir since 2004, whilst on tour with the choir in Canada she made her debut as a Soprano soloist. She is delighted to be continuing her role on the musical team of Gwent Male Choir and is looking forward to future events and tours. In January 2007. Hazel has taken up the position of Musical Director of Caerphilly Male Choir.

Accompanist ---  Barbara  Davies Is married with two grown up children originally from London. Barbara studied pianoforte in London and later in Derbyshire where she trained to be a teacher.  She currently holds a teaching post specialising in music She has been accompanist for various Choirs and Operatic Societies, including  Cwmbran Operatic Society and Standard Telephone Operatic society. She has over the years accompanied many well known solo Artistes including Welsh baritone Neil Davies. She is currently the accompanist for Newport Male Choir.

Choristers Top Tenor Fred Bacon  Ken Birch   Ronald Burton  Brian Charles   David Coughlin Thomas Nicholls   Darryl Oliver   Martin Price   Ken Pugh Derek Wakefield. Second Tenor Ronald Bundy Ian Clissold  Sidney Curtis Adrian Gettins Kenneth Jones  Trevor Jones  Alan Lewis  Glyn May  Glyn Oakley  Maurice Payne David Rideout  David Roberts  Glyn Saunders  Wilfred Tuckwell Roger White  Mansel Young. Baritone David Baggs  Dennis Buckley  William Collier Ivor Davies   Mike Dix   George Doherty  Edward Drew  John Edwards  John Griffiths Godfrey Jenkins  Thomas Jewel   Norman Locke   Lyndon Marshall Phillip Payne  John Powell  Ken Ransome  David Snook   Robert Stratton Alan Warburton   Albert Williams   Michael Willis. Bass Ernest Barrier  Mel Collier  Hugh Davies  Richard Davies   Ioan Edwards   David Bowen Evans Gordon Hitchmough John Price Ben Strawson  Clive Williams.