Sydney Welsh Choir

Viv Llewellyn, Music Director, was born in Porthcawl, South Wales and was an Eisteddfod competitor as a boy soprano as well as singing in church and chapel choirs. He came to Australia in 1973 to continue his career as a teacher of music and drama, undertaking further music studies at UTS. Viv is an accomplished musician, singer, actor and director of musical theatre. He became MD of the choir in 2003.

Clive Woosnam, Narrator, is a native of the famous Rhondda in South Wales. Clive started his teaching career in Australia in 1964 and taught for 35 years at Newington College. He has been President of the choir since 1991 and is also President of the Dylan Thomas Society of Australia and so gets many opportunities to perform the poetry and prose of Dylan Thomas, Wales' best known writer, as well as his own compositions.

Mary Ball, Assistant Music Director, led the choir during 2002 which included the overseas concert tour to Austria, Switzerland, France, England and Wales. She has extensive musical experience with secondary school, church and community choirs, musical comedy and entertaining senior citizens. Mary is also a church organist.

Cheryl Priest, Soloist, has an extensive musical background as a soloist of church and classical music as well as musical comedy. She teaches languages at Newington College, is a soloist with the school Chapel Choir and is a regular guest soloist with the Sydney Welsh Choir.

David Short, Accompanist, joined the choir in October 2005. After completing his studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, David began his career teaching music in NSW secondary schools, conducting choirs, directing stage musicals and running a variety of music groups. He is widely sought after as an accompanist on piano and organ, and has accompanied choirs, instrumentalists and vocalists since he was 13 years old. He is currently organist at St Matthews Uniting Church at Baulkham Hills, and is Principal of Galston High School in Sydney's north..

Bernadette Fisher, Soloist, is a classically trained soprano, now living in Brisbane, who was the soloist with the Sydney Welsh Choir on its 2006 European tour. She has a broad repertoire including baroque, classical, romantic and modern works and has worked with choirs in the metropolitan and Mid North Coast areas of NSW. Bernadette attained her A Mus A in 2003, and is currently studying for her Licentiate.

Meinir Thomas, Soloist, has given up a professional career as a leading soprano with the world-famous Swingle Singers to come to live in Sydney with her Australian husband. Welsh-speaking Meinir, from Bridgend, first sang with the Sydney Welsh Choir at the St David's Celebration, 2007, and three days later at the Dee Why concert. She has a very wide repertoire including many uncommon Welsh folk songs.