Culture
THREE LADIES CHOIRS – THREE DISTINCT TYPES OF MUSIC.
Press Release / 2012-04-20 20:09:36
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WELSH LADIES JOIN WITH LOCALS.
CONCERTS: FRIDAY 4th May 2012 at 20.00h
SUNDAY 6th May 2012 at 19.00h
Torrevieja’s “Virgen del Carmen” cultural centre is the venue for a very special charity concert which commences at 20.00h on FRIDAY 4th May 2012 and features three choirs, all with distinctive types of choral music but with one thing in common:– they are all ladies! The recently formed “Côr SERENATA”, a ladies choir from the ‘land of song’, Wales, will be visiting Torrevieja during the early part of next month and have invited local lady choristers from Torrevieja choirs, “Amas de Casa” and “Velvetones” to join them on the stage of the Virgen del Carmen cultural centre. The Welsh ladies will also off a ‘solo’ concert on the evening of SUNDAY 6th MAY in the Palacio de la Música and commencing at the earlier time of 19.00h.
An admission charge of only 3€ will be made to each concert, all of teh proceeds going to local charity “Alimentos Solidarios” in support if their wonderful initiative in providing a ‘social kitchen’ for the needy.
CÔR SERENATA (Port Talbot, Wales).
Port Talbot based ladies choir, Côr Serenata was formed in 2009. The founder Mrs Kerry Joshua had hoped to perhaps encourage 10 or 15 ladies to start a small singing group. Now the choir boast nearly 50 members with many successes under its musical belt.
Côr Serenata was both excited and privileged to sing throughout “The Passion Play” which took place in their home town of Port Talbot during Easter 2011, created by, and starring Hollywood actor Michael Sheen, who himself is from Port Talbot, and has since become the choirs Patron.
Further success followed with a 2011 TV appearance on the 50th Anniversary edition of “Songs of Praise”. Only two years, old the choir then appeared on television three times in as many weeks, a fantastic achievement for any choir.
A priority for the choir is to support as many local charities as possible, and this ranges from singing at hospitals , homes for the elderly, supporting causes such as ‘Breast Cancer Wales’, ‘Women’s Aid’, and many other worthy causes.
Côr Serenata are blessed with two gifted musical talents in their music team – a brilliant Musical Director, Mr Gareth Huw Ifan, and a wonderful accompanist, Mr Matthew Lewis, both of whom have nurtured the choir to the standard it is today. All of this has been made possible by the dedication and determination of the choir founder and Co-ordinator Mrs Kerry Joshua
Highlights for the choir in May 2012 will include its first overseas trip - a 4 day visit to Torrevieja, Spain where the choir will entertain at 2 charity concerts.
THE VELVETONES HARMONY CHORUS
The colourful and entertaining “Velvetones Harmony Chorus” is now well established in the Torrevieja area having been formed some 14 years ago. During this time the chorus has raised a tremendous amount of money for various charities and have delighted audiences when entertaining them with the wonderful harmonies they produce in a-cappella style. Their repertoire covers a broad range of songs, including those from musicals, pop, spiritual, classical and many more. The present membership includes ladies from Spain, Sweden, all parts of Great Britain, and New Zealand
Jan Ryder has been the Musical Director of the VELVETONES for many years. This local, English speaking, ladies barbershop chorus meets for rehearsals each Thursday afternoon at the “El PAraiso” restaurant in Torrevieja’s Jardin del Mar urbanisation.
“CORAL AMAS DE CASA CECILIO GALLEGO”.
This torrevejense choir, formed amongst the members of the local housewives association, “Amas de Casa” takes its name from its founding musical director, the late, Cecilio Gallego, who was killed in an ETA terrorist attack in Santa Pola a few years ago.
The very first public performance of the ‘Amas de Casa’ choir was at the annual “Habaneras on the Beach”•event in the summer of 2000.
Today, the choir is made up of around thirty ladies accompanied by five guitarists offering the typical sound of Torrevieja’s ‘habaneras’. The choristers come from various parts of Spain but the choir also incorporates a handful of non-Spanish members.
The choir regularly performs in Torrevieja and other Vega Baja towns and villages and has been responsible for raising much needed funds for a number of local charities. It has participated in many local events such as “International Women’s Day” or the patronal fiestas of the ‘Inmaculada’ or ‘Sagrado Corazon’.
Currently under the musical direction of the Paraguayan musician, Aníbal Cano Pettersen, the repertoire of the “Amas de Casa” choir consists of classic pieces, boleros, tangos and, of course, the typical habaneras of the town of their origin, Torrevieja. Aníbal commenced his musical studies in his home of Paraguay, later specializing through courses in Spain, Italy and France. He is also the current musical director of Torrevieja’s prestigious “Francisco Vallejos” choir.






