Tribute to Welsh Tenor David Lloyd
40 years have passed since the velvety voice sang for the last time while still
young, at only 57. To mark the occasion, Donald Lloyd - David Lloyd's nephew -
and tenor, Rhys Meirion have arranged a series of concerts throughout Wales to
commemorate the singer who charmed generations in Wales and beyond.
Rhys Meirion is one of Wales' leading tenors. He was born in Tremadog and now lives in
Ruthin. After an early career as a teacher, and studies at the Guildhall School of Music
and Drama, he made his professional debut with English National Opera in 1999. His roles
have included Rodolfo, Nemorino, Tamino, The Duke and Pinkerton.
He has performed for West Australian Opera, Hong Kong Opera Society, Opera Australia,
Lithuanian National Opera, and the BBC Proms. Rhys has appeared at the Henley Festival,
Cheltenham Festival, North Wales Festival, Swansea Festival and in concerts in Barbados,
Toronto, Ottawa and Florida and often appears as guest soloist in opera galas with the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra.
Recordings include
Benedictus, a duet album with Bryn Terfel, and three solo CD recordings for
SAIN. Engagements last season included Fenton in Falstaff for Welsh National Opera and concerts
in Argentina and in various venues across the UK. Plans include Lorenzo in Fra Diavolo for
Stanley Hall Opera and a series of concerts in tribute to the renowned Welsh tenor David Lloyd,
in venues across Wales.
Annette was born in the village of Deiniolen in Gwynedd, where she still resides. She graduated at the
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and then joined the Music Department of the
University of Wales, Bangor as a piano tutor to students following BA and BMus degree courses.
Annette has regularly accompanied many of the biggest names in entertainment, including Bryn
Terfel, Rebecca Evans and Aled Jones, she has accompanied at the Albert
Hall, London and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Georg Solti and members of
the Royal Family have been amongst her private audiences. She has worked regularly with the
Welsh National Opera for the last three years and has performed
as a soloist in a series of six Mass Male Voice Choir concerts throughout the North West.
Since 2002, Annette has been the Musical Director of Côr y Traeth Male Voice Choir in Anglesey and is
one of the founders and directors of the William Mathias Centre in Caernarfon. She has recorded
and produced over forty CDs, accompanying Welsh and International singers and choirs, and produced
Bryn Terfel and Rhys Meirion's CD
Benedictus, which was nominated for an award at the
Classical Brits in 2006.
Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir is one of the largest male voice choirs in North Wales with
around 100 members. The choir has appeared with many notable soloists such as Bryn Terfel,
Rhys Meirion, Gwyn Hughes Jones and performed alongside famous bands including the
Grimethorpe Colliery and Black Dyke.
The choir has had great success in competitions, gaining first prize at the National
Eisteddfod of Wales on seven occasions. The Choir came second out of 50 choirs in 1981
in BBC Radio Wales' Choir of the Year competition and second again in 2005 in BBC Cymru's
Male Voice Choir competition. Further afield, they came home with the first prize from the
Eire International Festival in Cork.
The choir has participated in the Thousand Voices concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
as well as in concerts in Europe and North America and regularly appears on television.
Their varied programme ranges from Vivaldi to Andrew Lloyd Webber, from folk songs
to modern classics - many of them arranged for the choir by the Conductor, Geraint Roberts.
