St. David’s Hall in Cardiff, is the Principality’s most prestigious concert venue and it recently hosted some of Wales’ finest musical talent.

In a concert filmed by the BBC reigning British Open and European Champions Cory provided the musical foundation for an evening of song led by Only Men Aloud’s Musical Director Timothy Rhys-Evans.

Fame

Only Men Aloud recently found fame when they became ‘The Last Choir Standing’ on BBC One’s hit talent show. Under their different name of Cantorion, Cory worked together with them last year when they collaborated on Karl Jenkins’ award winning CD release, ‘This Land of Ours’.

Only Men Aloud recently found fame when they became ‘The Last Choir Standing’ on BBC One’s hit talent show4BR

Contributions

The evening featured new arrangements for band, choir and organ by Jeffrey Howard, together with other musical contributions from the Welsh Choir of Harps; soprano voice Elin Manahan Thomas; and father and daughter duo, Mal and Daisy Pope.

Diva duet

During the concert the capacity audience were treated to a rousing performance of 'Calon Lan' by Cory and opera diva Katherine Jenkins.

World renowned composer Karl Jenkins also made an appearance when he took to the stage to conduct a moving performance of his own composition Benedictus featuring euphonium star David Childs.

Stirring close

The evening came to a stirring close when Aled Jones backed by Cory began Britain’s most popular hymn tune, ‘How Great Thou Art’ before being joined by the ladies of Serendipity, Only Men Aloud, the Welsh National Opera Community Choir & St David’s Praise Singers producing a magnificent sound enhanced by Jeffrey Howard on Organ.

The BBC will be using footage from the concert to produce two ‘Songs of Praise’ shows, one of which will be broadcast to a worldwide audience of 13 million on March 1st 2009.