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 Music Director of the choir in 2003.

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.

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 until recently a secondary school Principal.

Brian Lewis, Assistant Accompanist, is an accomplished musician and a member of the bass section of the choir. He studied piano for 8 years to 7th Grade and has been an organist and pianist at Wesley United Church, Castle Hill since 1967. Brian has also been accompanist and musically directed a number of shows for EUC Musical Society, Eastwood.

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 was President of the choir from 1991 to January 2010 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.

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.

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.