Saturday 30th June 2018 – Cantabile held an open session at Albany Hall in Haverfordwest and were thrilled with the response. Teas, coffees and cakes were served up whilst the choir performed with pizzazz in the glorious sunshine outside the hall. As well as those who came to listen, the people living opposite came out onto their balconies to listen to renditions of Abba’s Mamma Mia, It Don’t Mean a Thing (if you ain’t got that swing); and Rythm of Life – to name but a few. A few enjoyed it so much they intend to join us – a big welcome to you all!
Wednesday 23rd May 2018 – Yet another St Brides concert goes down a storm with the Castle’s guests. Cantabile tried out a few new pieces – You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray and With a Voice of Singing which were very well received by the audience. Always a pleasure to be at St Brides.
Sunday 29th April 2018 – it’s been a busy few days but we’ve enjoyed it! Here we are singing to the prospective brides (must say I didn’t see many grooms) at Milford Waterfront’s Wedding Fayre. Sunshine, singing and sandwiches for lunch – was a great day!
Saturday 21st April 2018 – the choir were delighted to give a flashmob performance to surprise the guests at Lowri and Charlie’s wedding at St Mary’s in Pembroke, especially as Lowri’s mum is a long-standing member of the choir. We loved being part of their big day and dressing up for the occasion. Congratulations both!
Wednesday 25th April 2018 – Cantabile were delighted to be performing once again at St Brides Castle for the visitors to Pembrokeshire. With many new additions to our repertoire we sang to a packed hall, raising the castle ramparts with a finale of the firm favourites Rhythm of Life and Hail Holy Queen. Thanks to our hosts and audience for a totally fabulous evening.
Sunday 17th December 2017
One of Cantabile’s favourite gigs – the annual singing of some of the best known Carols and Christmas songs at Morrisons store in Haverfordwest. It was great to be joined by some of our former members too. The singing raised the rafters as well as funds for the choir and for Morrisons Charity of the Year. And as usual the shoppers loved it too!
Saturday 2nd December 2017
Cantabile were very pleased to help entertain the diners at Brawdy Cawdor Barracks. The choir performed a wide range of traditional and more modern seasonal pieces, interspersed with some up-beat numbers. The service men and ladies and their spouses and partners looked fabulous and were very pleased to have the choir singing as they were served their meals in the beautifully-decked ballroom.
Wednesday 29th September 2017
Start of the autumn series of concerts at St Brides Castle and wow what a start it was! Bouyed with plenty of new members and a capacity audience the choir were in fine voice with a programme including songs from West Side Story, Cabaret, Karl Jenkins and the Beatles. An evening thoroughly enjoyed by all in one of the most fantastic locations in Pembrokeshire.
Tuesday 22nd August 2017
Cantabile were back at Fishguard this time entertaining Cruise Passengers whilst they waited to reboard their ships. A run through of some our favourite up-tempo numbers was followed (on request) by a seranade from the quayside as they set sail and all topped off with tea and Welsh Cakes!
Saturday 22nd July 2017
It was all aboard the ferry to Ireland for a fund-raising social and a great time was had by all. Cantabile entertained a full to capacity ship with a varied repertoire and had the younger passengers dancing on the decks! Even a spot a foot-tapping was spotted amongst the not quite so sprightly passengers. Thanks to Stena for allowing us aboard and to everyone who contributed to the cause – Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Cantabile – and of course to Sam Howley for leading from the front….and putting up with us in the bar afterwards.
Wednesday 28th June 2017 – St Brides Spring Finale
The last of the spring concerts at St Brides went with a swing to a full house, with some of our new members having their first taste of performing with the choir. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the repertoire, including Rhythm of Life, Adiemus, Broadway Blockbusters and Penny Lane. When an encore was called for the evening was nicely rounded off with Hallelujah. We’ll be back in the autumn.
Wednesday 7th June 2017 – Choir Taster Session
Wow! We had a superb evening with lots of potential recruits for the choir. Lots of members brought a friend along for the rehearsal and we were also joined by the Adam’s Bucketful choir – Hope and Glory to rehearse a piece of music especially composed by our esteemed Musical Director, Samuel Howley for the Festival of Hope Family Fun Day at Carew on Saturday 24th June. The enthusiasm of the patients and medic choir was contagious and the evening was rounded off with an impromtu mini-concert by Cantabile.
Saturday 24th June 2017 – Festival of Hope
Some of the Cantabile ladies joined with Adam’s Bucketful choir – Hope and Glory, Lanngwm’s Village Voices and Haverfordwest Ladies Choir to entertain the crowds at the special fun day organised Adam’s Bucketfull of Hope Charity to thank the people of Pembrokeshire for their support in fundraising and to celebrate the opening of the new Pembrokeshire Haemotology and Oncology Day Unit at Withybush Hospital. A fantastic day was had by all, rounded off with the massed choirs singing Sam Howley’s specially-written piece – ‘Light’. A video of the performance has been posted on Cantabile’s Facebook Page.
Wednesday 24th May 2017
A beautiful evening for our second Spring concert of the year at St Brides. We were delighted to have been able to tempt so many guests back inside on the warmest day of the year so far. Rhythm of Life and Hail Holy Queen were particularly enjoyed by audience members from as far afield as Lincoln and Poole.
Wednesday 22nd March 2017
The first st Brides Castle concert of the year – and it was an enjoyable evening all round. The audience was treated to a variety of songs from our repertoire, including some peices from the Stabat Mater. It is always a pleasure to perform at St Brides!
Saturday 26th November 2016
Cantabile sang at Paul Satori’s Light Up a Life service at Penybont Congregational Chapel, Wolfscastle. The service recognises and supports those who have recently been bereaved. The Choir sang several appropriately chosen pieces which were well-received by the congregation.
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th December 2016
A fabulous two days of carol-singing at Morrisons, Haverfordwest raising money for their charity of the year and funds for Cantabile. This has become a regular event for us and is thoroughly enjoyed by the choir. We raised plenty of smiles and it was great to have a few members of the public join in with us after their shopping. A big thank you to everyone who made a donation to us – big or small. It all helps. Merry Christmas everyone.
Easter Concert at St Mary’s, Haverfordwest (April 2015)
Cantabile joined forces with Viillage Voices of Llangwm and Tempus for a spectacular concert at St Mary’s Church in Haverfordwest. Cantabile performed Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with guest soloists for the evening, Elinor Davies and Calum Daniels. In the second half the audience were treated to the premiere of Sam Howley’s ‘Lacrimae’ for two recorders and harp followed by her ‘Requiem for the Somme’. A wonderful Good Friday concert thoroughly enjoyed by the choirs and capacity audience.
St Brides Concerts (Sept/Oct/Nov)
Cantabile returned to St Brides castle again this autumn for concerts of fun and singing. These concerts have been a wonderful test bed for introducing new pieces to gauge audience reaction to the new and much more upbeat catalogue introduce by Sam Howley the Musical Director. The choir enjoy singing them and to date the audience have loved them too!
FSB Dinner date at Pembrokeshire College
Happy with our efforts at the previous dinner Cantabile were invited back to give further entertainment to the guests at the Federation of Small Businesses dinner. As previously the applause and appreciation was warm. The programme now full of upbeat and fun musical pieces means no one can stop joining in the foot tapping repertoire.
St Brides Concerts (April and May)
Cantabile returned to St Brides castle for another evening of songs and fun. These concerts have seen the introduction of new pieces which include music from “Chicago” and Broadway favourites from Beauty and the Beast, Miss Saigon and Fiddler on the Roof. These have gone down extremely well with the audience and Cantabile hope to extend this type of music in their catalogue. Rumours are that another visit will be made during June – date to be confirmed.
Llain Las Concert
Despite various winter bugs striking at the sopranos Cantabile made it to Llain Las and had a great reception. It was a good opportunity for the choir to start singing some of the more upbeat music they have recently been learning and it went down extremely well with the audience. Sam Howley was, as usual, on top form and guided the choir and the audience through the presented music with much humour and aplomb. (One thing that the whole choir commented on was the quality of the cakes a half time. Yummy – just like Mum used to make!)
Autumn Music Celebration 23rd November
Music certainly was celebrated last night at the Tabernacle Church, Haverfordwest with a varied and what proved to be a popular programme. Sam Howley put Cantabile through their paces to a warm and appreciative audience. From the start of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” through to “Rhythm of Life” feet were tapping. The inclusion of pieces from Benjamin Brittan’s “Ceremony of Carols” illustrated so well the beauty of the female voice and showed Cantabile Singers at their best.
Georgina Jeremiah, Abi Price, Louise Hales and James Owen supplied further talent as they contributed to the evenings entertainment.
The invitation to the audience to join the singers for apple cake and mulled apple juice was taken up by most attendees and very much appreciated. Mary Berry certainly has some competition from the Cantabile cooks who produced delicious and varied examples of how the apple can be presented in a cake.
Great Reception at St Brides
Yet again Cantabile received a wonderful reception at St Brides (Sept 25th 2013). The audience particularly enjoyed the rousing Adiemus which never fails to impress. Mandy was, as usual, a gracious host and with extra tickets sold managed to find seats for all.
FSB Dinner date at Pembrokeshire College
A warm reception greeted the Cantabile Singers as they began their programme on Friday last(20th Sept). Replete from an excellent dinner the guests greeted every piece with warm and appreciative applause. The new upbeat pieces introduced by the Sam Howley were especially well received.
Llangwm Festival Kicks off!
The Llangwm festival kicked off with a concert organised by the Village Voices with Cantabile as their guests on Sunday the 7th July 2013. It was a well attended concert at the Llangwm Methodist Chapel in the centre of the village. In addition to the other guests and soloists Cantabile’s Hilary Riley delivered 5 solo pieces. Cantabile performed a programme of 8 pieces and joined Village Voices to deliver Adiemus and Rhythm of Life together in a rousing finale.
Packed House at St Brides
There is no doubt that the St Brides concerts are becoming very special events to the Cantabile Singers. What a wonderful reception they enjoyed again on Wednesday 24th April and May 22nd 2013 when Hilary Riley led the choir as MD. Her rehearsal tuition and encouragement paid dividends as the singers felt confident in her leading them through a tesing program. The audience was, as usual, very appreciative and many stayed after the concert to compliment and discuss the music with members of the committee.
A Christmas Wedding
Cantabile sang at a Christmas wedding on the 21st of December 2012 at Prendergast Church, Haverfordwest. The bride and groom had chosen 5 peices for Cantabile to sing and also instead of hymns they selected Christmas Carols. It was a truely magical event.
Music by Candlelight
Cantabile sang by candlelight on December 1st 2012 at St Mary’s church in Haverfordwest. Despite the cold outside the candles and singing warmed up the audience who were treated for a mixture of Carols and firm choir favourites. Audience reaction was good with many staying back to express their pleasure at the event and performance.
Crowd moved on at the Cardiff Millennium Centre
A warm welcome was received from the audience at the Millenium Centre for the Cantabile Singers on November the 10th. Those who watched on the internet gave praise for the sound and pace of the concert. Hillary Riley was in good voice as the guest soloist and delighted the audience with a varied programme from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Vivaldi. So great was the attention that at one point the listeners were moved on by the staff as the auditorium bell was sounding and too many had not taken their seats but were enjoying the Cantabile programme.
A Wall of Sound at St Marys, Haverfordwest
On Saturday the 3rd of November Cantabile Singers were the guests of Haverforwest Male Voice Choir along with Sandown Male Choir (Isle of Wight). Cantabile sang five peices including Karl Jenkins Adiemus from the Songs of Sanctuary. This caused the usual appreciative response from the audience as it continues to be a firm favourite of the choir and audiences alike. Cantabile Singers joined both male choirs for the final anthems and members of the audience described this as a “Wall of Sound”.
Standing room only, yet again, at St Brides!
Cantabile made a third visit to the magnificent St Brides Castle on Wednesday (17th October). It was standing room only, again, and a packed audience responded appreciatively to a varied and topical programme chosen by the Musical Director – Richard Stephens who in addition to conducting the choir accompanied them also. The choir performance was, as usual, faultless and despite the stormy weather members and audience turned out in good numbers.