We welcomed a former Dean’s Scholar John Raymond Davies back to the Cathedral for a guided tour.

                         

John was here to attend one of the Festival of Voice Bryn Terfel concerts with some of his family and was greeted by the Church Warden and Head Virger.

                                                                                                

The Cathedral was a significant part of John’s childhood and the memories came flooding back during his tour.

John’s family were kind enough to bring some photograph’s of his time at the Cathedral along with a photo taken during the service attended by HM the Queen on 1960 to mark the restoration.

 

The Cathedral celebrated HM the Queen’s 90th Birthday with a Service of Thanksgiving followed by a glorious Afternoon Tea.

                                 
The rain cleared up in time for the tables to be set up outside and a delicious selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries were enjoyed by all.
   

Musical entertainment was provided by singers from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama who performed songs suiting all tastes from Novello to Lloyd Webber

We would like to extend our thanks to all who helped the Cathedral hold a truly wonderful event which was enjoyed by all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

is celebrating music and song from the 3rd to the 12th June with 30 venues throughout Cardiff hosting concerts and events.

                                                                                

Llandaff Cathedral is pleased to be part of the festival with 4 concerts including 2 performances from Bryn Terfel.

Friday 3rd June the Rustavi Ensemble will perform, starting at 7.00pm

                                                              

Joined by the traditional Welsh male choir, Côr y Gyrlais, the Rustavi Ensemble is a Georgian folk music ensemble created almost 50 years ago. Performing songs about work, war and national identity, Rustavi combine music with national and diverse traditional dances, vivid costumes and folk instruments to create a harmonious spectacle of Georgian culture.

Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th June – An Evening with Bryn Terfel and Friends, starting at 7.00pm each evening.                                                                                                                         

Featuring the chamber orchestra Sinfonia Cymru under the baton of Gareth Jones, this enchanting evening will see Bryn, with special guests Rebecca Evans and harpist Hannah Stone, perform some favourite music and arias. The programme will include beautiful music by Bach, Handel and Mozart, including the intimate and charming Brandenburg Concerto No.6.

Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares perform at the Cathedral on Friday 10th June, starting at 6.30pm

                                                             

Created by the father of Bulgarian concert folk music, Philip Koutev, the group are coming to Wales for the first time in ten years.  The group have worked with Bulgaria’s leading composers to bring a spellbinding, unmissable experience to the festival.

For tickets please visit https://festivalofvoice.wales or contact the Ticket Office on 029 2063 6464

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Stephen Moore as Director of Music. Since 2010 Stephen has been Director of Music at St Matthew’s Church, Northampton, where he has overseen the redevelopment and consolidation of the choral tradition there. St Matthew’s has long had a famous tradition of commissioning new music beginning  with Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb over 70 years ago; under Stephen’s direction the choir have given the premieres of new works by Paul Mealor, David Halls and Philip Stopford, recorded two CDs and undertaken several successful tours.
                                                                         
Stephen completed his undergraduate studies at Trinity College of Music, with organ as principle study, graduating in 2008 with a first class honours degree in performance and winning the college medal for the highest keyboard studies mark in his year along with the college prize for conducting. Whilst at Trinity he studied with William Whitehead and Colm Carey and twice won the Cardnell Organ Prize for outstanding performance. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and a Fellow of Trinity College London. In September 2015 Stephen began Postgraduate study with Henry Fairs at Birmingham Conservatoire.

Whilst studying in London Stephen spent two years working at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, having previously held posts at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich and Southwell Minster. Upon finishing his degree, Stephen spent a year as Organ Scholar at Salisbury Cathedral. Until December 2010, Stephen held the post of Organist and Director of Choral Music at Felsted School, Essex, as well as Musical Director of the Braintree Choral Society. He has recently taught at The Northamptonshire Grammar School in Pitsford, and for Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. Stephen has been active on the RSCM committee for Northampton and Peterborough area and was President of the Northampton and District Organists’ Association in 2013. Since 2011 he has been Musical Director of the Northampton Chamber Choir with whom he has directed performances of works such as Duruflé, Fauré and Rutter Requiems, Handel Messiah, Mozart Solemn Vespers and Haydn Creation.

As a soloist he has given recitals in numerous churches and cathedrals throughout the country, most recently Leicester and Wakefield Cathedrals, Christ Church Priory and Huddersfield University. He performed in the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester in 2008, and the Southern Cathedrals Festival in Salisbury in 2009. Recital engagements in 2016 include Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Southwell Minster as well as liturgical performances of Messiaen La Nativité du Seigneur and Dupré Le Chemin de la Croix.

The Dean of Llandaff has said “I am delighted that Stephen has accepted the invitation to join us at Llandaff. He brings with him a wealth of experience and an energetic vision that will reshape the delivery of music here”.

Stephen will take up his appointment in September.

Christian Aid Week 2016 is here!

Huw Thomas, Head of Christian Aid Wales will be preaching at the 9.00am Parish Eucharist on Sunday 15th May.

  Thursday 19th May please join us for “War on Want” lunch in Prebendal House at  12.30pm.   £5.00 per head for bread, cheese and fruit plus tea or coffee.

Sunday 22nd May Sunday School – Bring and Buy Sale in Prebendal House  after the 9.00am service.

Individual donations can be made using the envelopes on the table at the back of the Cathedral.  These  can be returned via the donations box opposite the table – please fill in the Gift Aid Form to increase your gift by 25%!

Please remember our band of house-to-house collectors in your prayers this week.

Your support will be much appreciated!