The Ariosa Singers

Informal photos from VENICE concert tour 2011 (Joe Gorvett's collection)

The Ariosa Singers is a choir of young singers from Swansea and the surrounding areas affliliated to All Saints Church, Oystermouth, Swansea. Many of the senior members are studying singing and music at Conservatoires and Universities and others hope to do the same in the future. For some of the singers, music will always be a much-loved pastime as they follow careers in other fields. The Singers have a wide repertoire Repertoire which includes: Handel’s Christmas Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Regina Coeli and Coronation Mass, Lotti’s Crucifixus, Elgar’s The Snow and Lux Aeterna, Karl Jenkins’ Mass for Peace, Ave Verum and Gloria, Robat Arwyn’s Benedictus. Monteverdi’s Deus in Adjutorium together with music theatre hits, commissioned pieces and special arrangements.

Soloists are usually drawn from past and present members of the choir. The Singers have performed in All Saints Church, Oystermouth Swansea, St. Mary’s Swansea, St Peter’s Church Newton, Mumbles Methodist Church, St Cattwg’s Church Port Eynon, Llanrhidian Church, Gower, St David’s Church Neath, St Catharine’s Church Baglan, Margam Abbey, Ostreme Hall, St Benedict’s RC Church and St Joseph’s RC Cathedral, Swansea. They have sung in concerts vwith Morriston Orpheus, Morriston RFC Choir, Gwalia Singers, Pontarddulais, Dunvant and Pendyrus Male Choirs.

The Ariosa singers are well travelled. They undertake an annual overseas concert tour.

In 2006 they travelled to Dublin when they sang the Hallelujah Chorus on the steps of the restored Hall in Fishamble Street where Messiah was first performed and received a standing ovation in Christchurch Cathedral.
In 2007 the Singers gave a series of concerts in Prague performing Mozart’s Coronation Mass in the Betramka Mozart Museum where the composer stayed, in the People’s Hall in Podebrady, St Anne Karlovy Vary in aid of Church funds and in St Nicholas Church. The Singers participate in charity concerts.
Below are photos from the 2008 concert which raised money for Prostate Cancer research.

In July 2008 the Singers travelled to Paris to present Fauré’s Requiem in the Church of la Madeleine where the composer was organist and where the first performance of the Requiem was given. The Requiem was also performed in Chartres Cathedral. The Singers gave recitals in the American Church to yet another standing ovation and in Chateau Lormoy. They concert tours are not just performance based. The Ariosas have cruised the Liffy, the Vltava and the Seine, seen Don Giovanni in its original performance space, done a Viking Ride, a ghost walk, climbed the Eiffel Tower and spent a day at DisneyLand Paris.
2009 Barcelona: Girona Cathedral, Claustre Hostelric, the Church of Lloret, Montserrat Abbey, and Barcelona Cathedral.
2010 Florence and Tuscany: Pisa Cathedral, Chiesa Santa Maria dei Ricci, Barco Reale Amphitheatre, and the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta, Montecatini.
2011 Venice: Chiesa San Giovanni Elemosinario, the English Church of St George, Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli, and the Jesolo Community Hall
LOTS OF PHOTOS IN GALLERY PAGE AND GALLERY SLIDE SHOWS

For the latest concert venues and detail please click here

The Singers have raised money for many charities including Longfields Centre, Breast Cancer Care Wales, Prostate Cancer Care, the NSPCC, Save the Children, Air Ambulance Wales, the RNLI and several local churches.

Their Director is Penny Ryan who has studied at the universities of London, Cambridge and Wales. She has a degree in English and a Master’s degree in education together with several music performance diplomas. She has been a Headteacher and College Principal, has sung professionally and recorded for EMI and now teaches privately with her pupils including many of the Ariosa Singers. She serves on several national committees and is Choral and Festival Director at All Saints. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded an OBE for services to education. Penny is Chair of the Swansea and Brecon Royal School of Church Music committee.

Guest Accompanists are David Merriman and Leslie Ryan

The Choir Accompanist Hywel Evans B Mus, an honours graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Hywel is also accompanist to the Morriston RFC and Dunvant Male Choirs with whom he has toured Ireland and Spain. He is organist to the Parish of Llwynderw.

Our honorary physician is Dr Trevor Barrow MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP, DRCOG, AKC, Lt/Col Rtd RAMC.

Our Choir Administrator is Yvonne Gabriel.

A Child Protection Policy based on best practice and a Public Liability insurance cover are in place. Staff and some of the senior singers have CRB clearance. We ensure that no personal information is given to third parties -see our privacy statement.

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