St David’s Day Annual Concert
After two years of cancellations due to Covid, the Victoria Welsh Choir was thrilled to finally celebrate St David’s Day—albeit three months late—on Sunday, 29th May. Held at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall in the Melbourne Recital Centre, this traditional concert featured the choir’s rich Welsh repertoire performed in beautiful four-part harmony.
Due to the pandemic, both our Musical Director Faleiry Koczkar and Accompanist Lorna Ogilvie were unavailable. Stepping in seamlessly were our talented ‘Alternative A Team’: Associate Musical Director Rushan Hewawasam led the choir, with Mary O’Driscoll (recently appointed accompanist for our Ballarat chapter) on piano.
The concert began with a rousing performance of Gwŷr Harlech. Compère Drew Hopkins then welcomed the audience and introduced a Welsh medley. Rushan and Mary settled into their roles with ease, to the delight of both choir and audience. The medley included We’ll Keep a Welcome, Hymns and Arias, and Calon Lân, the latter performed in part with guest artist David Hobson. This bracket concluded with Myfanwy and the popular Cwm Rhondda, which featured audience participation.
David Hobson, accompanied by David Cameron, performed three solo pieces: Nella Fantasia, Lamento di Frederico from L’Arlesiana, and the familiar I’m Reviewing the Situation from Oliver!. The audience responded warmly with enthusiastic applause.
The choir then sang a set of hymns, introduced by Drew: For the Beauty of the Earth, Rhys (Rho Im yr Hedd), and Blaenwern (Love Divine All Loves Excelling). These hymns reflected the deep role chapel singing has played in preserving Welsh culture.
Adding a Celtic flavour to the program, the all-female Celtic group Bhán Tré performed next. Comprising Geraldine Davis, Sue Foley, and Rebecca Humphreys, the trio played Irish Ways and Irish Laws and By the Liffey Side, then joined the choir for Loch Lomond. David Hobson closed the first half with How Great Thou Art, supported by the choir.
After the interval, the choir returned with three evocative Welsh songs: Unwaith Eto’n Nghymru Annwyl (Once Again in Dear Wales) with David Hobson, Nant y Mynydd (Mountain Stream)—the first verse sung a capella by four Bendigo tenors—and O Gymru (One Man’s Love for Wales).
David Hobson’s second solo bracket featured Raglan Road, Hush-a-bye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and a crowd-pleasing performance of I am a Pirate King from The Pirates of Penzance, complete with flag bearer Tony Hosemans and full choir backing.
The choir then performed Anfonaf Angel, introduced by Rushan and dedicated to frontline health workers. Nigel McGuckian added delicate flute accompaniment. This was followed by You’ll Never Walk Alone, featuring soloist Roger Bartlett.
David returned with his guitar for the lively Irish ballad Spanish Lady, complete with audience and choir clapping along to the final “Olé!”
The concert closed with a joint performance of the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and Waltzing Matilda, bringing together the choir, Bhán Tré, David Hobson, Rushan, and Mary. It was a spirited and heart-warming conclusion to a memorable afternoon.
Audience Feedback:
“Wonderful concert – uplifting with a great sense of humour. Thank you.”
“Choir and Bhán Tré were GREAT.”
“Loved the choir and Bhán Tré!”
“A wonderful concert despite Covid hassles. Something for everyone.”