Monmouth Male Voce Choir performed for the United States Ambassador, Jane Hartley and invited guests at her London residence, Winfield House in Regent’s Park on Thursday, March 2

The choir received the invitation to entertain the Ambassador and her guests at a reception held as part of Wales Week London 2023 and are indebted to Secretary of State David TC Davies for his assistance in securing this prestigious invitation.

On arrival at the North Gate of Winfield House, the first surprise for choristers was that they cleared security without a hitch! The next was the sheer opulence of the venue.

Set in 12 acres of Regent’s Park, Winfield House has the second largest private garden in London after that of Buckingham Palace and, though originally built for American heiress Barbara Woolworth Hutton in 1936, it has been the Ambassador’s residence since 1955.

At 5 pm, Ambassador Jane Hartley and Secretary of State David TC Davies welcomed the many dignitaries and invited guests including UK and Welsh Government representatives, MP’s, Peers and business leaders.

Former choir chairman, Huw Edwards, then expressed the choir’s thanks for their invitation before Musical Director Lewis Hutton conducted the first number, a rousing rendition of Calon Lan.

This was followed by two more Welsh favourites, Anfonaf Angel and O Gymru. Then, for those non Welsh speakers in the audience and to provide a link with the hosts, the choir sang the incredibly moving Tell My Father, a song about a dying soldier during the American Civil War.

To conclude, MMVC then sang one of their favourite pieces Gwahoddiad, a song which was actually written by an American Methodist minister, Lewis Hartsough, before being joined by the guests for an emotional conclusion with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. To be invited to perform at such a distinguished event shows how far Monmouth Male Voice Choir have come in the 10 years since their formation.

They received wonderful plaudits from the Ambassador and many of the distinguished guests including Tim Rhys-Evans founder of Only Men Aloud.

Monmouth Male Voice Choir hope to see many of supporters again at their next concert: Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth on 24th March: details www.monmvc.org.uk