About Us
The Choir was formed in 1967 as a breakaway group from the larger London Welsh choir. While many members come from the Welsh community in and around London, it is open to anyone who shares a passion for singing and enjoying themselves. The repertoire ranges from traditional Welsh hymns and folk-tunes, well known opera choruses and spirituals, to lighter numbers including pop songs and hits from Broadway musicals. The Gwalia is in demand for public concerts, cabarets, weddings and other private functions, frequently performing in Cathedrals, concert halls, churches, hotels, clubs, offices and village halls throughout the UK. The Gwalia makes recordings on radio, TV appearances and commercials, and also tours regularly.
In its illustrious 50 year history the Gwalia has been a prize-winner at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, has performed in London's Royal Festival and Royal Albert Halls, St James’s Palace, and on the pitch at Wales' rugby stadium in Cardiff. A number of choir members took part in the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympic Games. The Gwalia was honoured to be invited by Her Majesty's Government to sing at the Drumhead Service on Horse Guards Parade to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day.The Choir has made concert tours to Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Northern Italy, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Switzerland and, most recently, Northern France on the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
The Gwalia rehearses on Wednesday evenings in the London Welsh Centre, 157 Gray’s Inn RoadWC1X 8UE, where a warm welcome is extended to visitors and anyone interested in joining the choir.
Photo by kind permission of Rhys Frampton
President
Cerys Matthews MBE
Cerys Matthews is a musician, author, broadcaster and owner of The Good Life Experience festival in Flintshire. She programmes and hosts music shows for the BBC World Service, and her BBC 6 weekly show won Gold at the Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2014 and the Audio Production Awards in 2016. Cerys is a roving reporter for BBC television's One Show; she writes and presents documentaries for tv and BBC Radio 4 and Radio 2. In addition she is a columnist and music reviewer for British Airways.
Cerys was born in Cardiff and is fluent in Welsh. She was the founder member of multi-million selling band Catatonia, and duets with Sir Tom Jones on her album of winter classics Baby It's Cold Outside. She has composed music for the National Theatre and set Dylan Thomas' A Child’s Christmas to music in her 2014 release Poems and Tiger Eggs on her record label Marvels of the Universe. Cerys' sing-a-long book 'Hook, Line and Singer' (Penguin 2013) was a Sunday Times best-seller, and her books for children are 'Tales from the Deep' and 'Gelert: A Man’s Best Friend' published by Gomer.
In 2014 Cerys was appointed an MBE for her services to music, won a prestigious St David Award from the Welsh Government, and was awarded an honorary degree in Music from Swansea University. Cerys is Vice President for Shelter and for the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, and is patron of the Dylan Thomas Society and Ballet Cymru.
Musical Director
Wyn Hyland MA (Oxon) ARCM (PG)
Wyn hails from Cardigan, and was educated at Chetham's Music School, Wadham College, Oxford and the Royal College of Music. Credits include recitals in Asia, Bolivia, Uganda, Australia and New Zealand, concertos at The Royal Festival Hall, St. David’s Hall and BBC Maida Vale and Musical Director on the European tours of Cabaret and Guys and Dolls. He has worked with Welsh National Opera, performed on Woman’s Hour, was Assistant Musical Director on The Music Man at Chichester, appeared on Last Choir Standing with the winning choir Only Men Aloud, and has worked in the West End with Chicago. Wyn became the Gwalia's Accompanist in2012, and was appointed Musical Director in March 2018..
Chairman : Richard Hopkin
Engagement Sec : John Harrow
Choir Sec : Geoff Rogers
Treasurer : Paul Miner
Trustees : Steve Davies, Geoff Rogers, Paul Miner, John Harrow
Registered Charity No 116919
Gwalia History
A PDF collection of diary, events and photographs, from the choir’s creation.
Compiled by Steve Davies as a supplement to the Choir’s 50th Anniversary Concert.
Steve Davies’ introduction to the series, along with a contents page.