Cymanfa Ganu

As part of the Welsh Church’s St David’s Day celebrations, a Cymanfa Ganu (Singing Festival) was held on Sunday afternoon 3 March at St Michael’s Church, Collins Street on a very hot and humid day.

In the absence of a guest conductor from Wales, local Welsh choir conductors Ms Jeanette John and Tom Buchanan shared duties and very ably steered all choirs and audience through ten different well-known hymns, accompanied by organ, brass and timpani.

Geelong Welsh Ladies combined with Mornington Peninsula Welsh Ladies Choir to sing two numbers by themselves as did Excelsis, with all three male choirs combining on Rachie and Gwahoddiad. All six choirs joined together on Brenin Seion, to great acclaim.

The 2018 National Eisteddfod’s Blue Riband winner Andrew Jenkins thrilled the assembly with five numbers, most notably with My Little Welsh Home and Cymru Fach.

The inimitable harpist Huw Jones entertained everybody with the story and improvisation of The Ash Grove plus a rollicking Along the Road to Gundagai.

At the end of the Gymanfa Ganu, all choirs, all patrons and the guest baritone stood to passionately sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.