A “delighted” music teacher is taking on an accordion solo during the premier of new work written for the National Youth Choir of Wales.
Mario Conway, director of music at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, is set to perform Sounds and Sweet Airs with the choir in two Cardiff venues this Friday.
The piece was put together by Paul Mealor, whose motet Ubi Caritas was commissioned by Prince William for his marriage to Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
Hailed as a new romanticist of classical music, Mealor has now composed this choral work for the National Youth Choir of Wales, which includes a solo accordion part to celebrate 150 years of Welsh settlement in Patagonia.
Mr Conway was thrilled to be asked to perform in the premiere of the piece, which takes place firstly at the Senned in Cardiff Bay at 12.30pm, and then at Llandaff Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday, July 24.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be playing the accordion part when this wonderful piece of music is heard for the first time.
“It’s a real honour to be a part of this joyous celebration, and it would be lovely to see staff, pupils and parents from HMSG at the performances on Friday.”
The work, with text by William Shakespeare, has just been published by Novello and Company limited.
Friday’s performances mark the launch of the Choir’s Patagonia 150 celebrations, as they prepare to tour Argentina in October and November this year.
The lunch time show at the Senned is free to watch, and tickets to the evening performance at Llandaff Cathedral are priced between £4.50 and £9, available on the door.
