The Liverpool Choir with a Welsh Heritage
Liverpool Welsh Choral was founded in 1900 as the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union, following an Eisteddfod held in Liverpool. You can read more about our history here.
With a membership of around 100, a third of our members have some Welsh origin. But don’t worry about not being able to speak the Welsh language. The Welsh part of our repertoire is mainly learned phonetically; it sounds beautiful and awe-inspiring when sung chorally.
Would you like to join one of Liverpool’s leading choirs?
Singing in a choir is an uplifting experience plus an excellent opportunity to grow your social life. This Liverpool choir is inclusive, yet has high standards.
LWC offer you exciting musical opportunities. You will perform traditional oratorios and symphonic repertoire to lighter choral music, including Christmas music and occasional pieces in the Welsh and other choral languages under expert leadership.
You will get the chance to sing in beautiful venues such as the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, in the Liverpool cathedrals and other large church venues and concert halls.
You will perform with orchestras, brass bands, accompanied and unaccompanied. Sometimes you’ll perform outside Liverpool, take part in tours, and perform with other large choirs.
If you enjoy singing, want to improve your musical skills, then why not come along and be part of a large, vibrant choir?
We welcome singers of all levels of experience and all ages.
A message from our Musical Director Keith Orrell
There is a small core Welsh membership, but we are essentially a large mixed soprano, alto, tenor and bass choir (SATB), open to all singers of any musical background.
Above all, we are a friendly and inclusive group that provides an opportunity to share common interests in a purposeful and enjoyable environment.
You’ll come along to one of our Wednesday evening rehearsals for a few weeks without any long-term obligation. It gives you a chance to see what it feels like to rehearse with LWC.
After that, if you want to join us (and we think you will!), there’s an informal, non-threatening audition (more like a free singing lesson) with me.
Become a Friend of Liverpool Welsh Choral
Do you love choirs but don’t want to sing? Perhaps you would like to support one of the oldest independent Liverpool choirs in another way?
You can support the Liverpool Welsh Choral by joining our ‘Friends’ scheme. Becoming a Friend helps us maintain our concert schedule so we can continue to nourish an excellent choral tradition in Liverpool.
Becoming a Friend of Liverpool Welsh Choral means you’ll be kept up to date about performances, get a free ticket, join us behind the scenes, come to social events and other perks.
If you know someone who loves choral music, why not give them an annual Friends membership as a present?
The Choir has about six concerts each season, and rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings between September and late May. As each concert draws near, additional rehearsals may occur.
Most concerts are on Saturday evenings with full rehearsals in the afternoon. Rehearsals are held at Liverpool University on Wednesday evenings between September and May, usually from 6.45pm to 9.00pm.
Rehearsals are hard work and great fun, helping us to realise our aim, which is: the study and practice of choral music in order to foster the public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance.
As well as performing regularly in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, the choir is committed to taking music into the community of Merseyside and beyond and working in partnership with all local organisations that wish to bring quality arts to the people.
Although the choir has its roots in the Liverpool/Welsh traditions, membership is open to anyone who enjoys singing and making good music.
Meet the team
Our Musical Director - Keith Orrell
Keith has been inspiring our choir since 2003. He is also the MD of the William Byrd Singers of Manchester, since 2009. He was previously the Chorus Master of the Halle Choir between 1995 and 2002 and the founder conductor of the Beaumaris Singers from 1988-2004. His vast choral experience includes leading workshops and conductor courses, adjudicating, composing and arranging. From 2006 until his recent semi-retirement, he led the development of singing of many thousands of children in the schools of Wigan Education Authority. He is a devoted church musician, pianist and organist.
Our Accompanist - Stephen Hargreaves
Stephen studied organ with Ian Tracey, Noel Rawsthorne and Nicholas Kynaston. He was Organ Scholar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he also studied Law. Stephen is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and has won many prizes for his playing. In 2013, he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Our Patron - Sir Karl Jenkins
Sir Karl Jenkins CBE honoured the choir by readily accepting the invitation to become its Patron. This followed the highly successful performance of his own composition The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, which he conducted with the LWC in the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in 2005.
In May 2012, Karl returned to Liverpool to conduct the Liverpool Welsh Choral as they performed The Armed Man once again. He also conducted Te Deum, a piece commissioned by the Liverpool Welsh Choral and written by him.
President - Huw Rees
Professor Huw Rees from Bwlchygroes, North Pembrokeshire was educated in the village school, Cardigan Grammar School, before obtaining his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He subsequently came to the University of Liverpool on a research Fellowship, before being appointed Lecturer and remained there until retirement, ending up as Professor of Biochemistry. In 1972, he spent a sabbatical period in Beltsville, Maryland. Huw is a passionate rugby supporter.
Chair - Wena Evans
I was born in Old Colony, Colony Bae, North Wales. My parents came from Caernarfon town and we spoke Welsh at home and with other family members. The Welsh people, away from home, are a proud and often more patriotic people than others. I count myself within this group and am proud of the Welsh community which is still active in Liverpool based on the Chapel in Auckland Road.
My husband of over 40 years, Tim, is always my main support. We have 3 children, Bethan, Ffion and Aled who have produced 7 grandchildren between them.
I worked as a District Nurse for most of my working life, a hands-on nurse as well as managing teams. I also became an ante-natal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust teaching both prospective teachers as well advising parents-to-be, an interesting combination dealing with new life and end of life events.
I have been a member of the LWC for over 20 years and although I was brought up singing from an early age, it is not so easy to fit in when older and family responsibilities weigh in. I love the choir and all they do and I am so proud too of being their Cadeirydd and look forward to fulfilling this role for the next 3 years.
Honorary Secretary - Stella McGann
Stella has been singing in choirs most of her life, but particularly enjoys singing with LWC because of the wide-ranging repertoire and concert opportunities it offers. In the five years since she joined the choir, not just the classic big choral works, but a capella pieces by contemporary composers, jazz, choruses from operas and musicals in concerts in a variety of venues, have presented exciting and rewarding challenges. As vice-chair, she enjoys working with like-minded fellow exec. members who are committed to moving the choir forward, and to opening up the choir again for the new season. Since retiring as Head of Performing Arts in a large comprehensive school, Stella has enjoyed travelling, gardening and directing a choir of ‘mature’ singers, and her parish choir on the Wirral.