A capacity audience at the Church of St Mary, the Virgin, Hay-on-Wye was treated to a grand concert recently.

Côr Meibion Talgarth Male Choir shared the stage with Cantorion y Gelli - a Welsh choir from Hay, performing their first concert.

The evening was compered by Viv Jones, who welcomed several former choristers to the audience, including Bryan Lewis, Mike Anthony and David Parry.

Cantorion y Gelli, led by Gemma Woolford, won an award at last year’s National Eisteddfod, and this was Talgarth’s last appearance before joining the massed Welsh choirs at the Royal Albert Hall.

Each choir featured their own soloists, with Maelgwyn Watkins also dueting with Peterchurch soprano, Joy Rickwood whilst Cantorion’s Neil Hughes and Steven Jones sang “Dafydd y Garreg Wen”.

Both choirs joined in the chorus when Neil, Steven and Dermot Doyne sang Dafydd Iwan’s “Yma o Hyd” - which has now famously also become an unofficial anthem for the Wales national football team.

Cantorion y Gelli sang a programme of Welsh hymns and folk songs, including “Lisa Lân” and “Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn” ending with the audience’s favourite, “Finlandia”.

Côr Meibion Talgarth were directed on the evening by Val Whiston and Margaret Davies, with Nigel Williams accompanying. They performed a varied programme which started with Neapolitan Trilogy, arranged by Dr Alwyn Humphries, who will conduct his arrangement at the Albert Hall.

The audience rocked to the choir’s rendition of “Amen – This Little Light Of Mine” and were delighted by the crescendo “Amen” of “Tydi a Roddaist”.

A resounding evening of song was rounded off with both choirs joining to sing “I Bôb Un Sy’n Ffyddlon” to the hymn tune, Rachie, and the national anthem.

The proceeds of the concert are to be donated to Wales Air Ambulance, which delivers lifesaving, advanced medical care to people across Wales.

Côr Meibion Talgarth Male Choir’s next concert will take place at Talgarth Town Hall at 7:30pm on Saturday, May 25, when their guests will be Llantrisant Male Choir.