with pix - Rehearsal, Accompanists, HWest Choir. For over a century, Wales has enjoyed a popular reputation as a land of song, and for much of that time this singing has been synonymous in the public mind with the work of the perennial male voice choirs.

But the last decade-and-a-half has seen a remarkable proliferation in the number of ladies choirs.

Haverfordwest Ladies Choir, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, was one of the first into this new field.

The choir was formed in September 1991 by the energetic Richard Stephens, who, as musical director of the Welsh Association of Ladies Choirs, was able to feature the Haverfordwest women, alongside choirs from the breadth of South Wales, in a number of concerts of massed female voices.

The concerts were held throughout the 1990s, in venues like St Davids Hall, Cardiff and Swanseas Brangwyn Hall, being attended by audiences of many hundreds.

Simultaneously with these high-profile performances, the choir developed a distinctive community role, one which continues wholeheartedly to this day. The members raise a great deal of money for charity through their involvement in fund-raising concerts throughout the county and are supported by Haverfordwest Town Council in this work.

They regularly visit nursing homes for the elderly to sing and talk to the residents. They are even available to sing at weddings.

This involvement in the towns community has been reflected in the choirs choices of president - first Joffre Swales, later Councillor Mike Davies, and currently the present Mayor, Councillor Charles Davies.

When Clare Harrison followed Richard Stephens as conductor and musical director, the choirs programme regularly featured a major Patrons Concert, held initially in Sir Thomas Picton School and later in the Withybush Pavilion, when other choirs like Neyland, Templeton and Swansea Excelsior would join the local women in the programme.

Distinguished supporting artistes included pianist Jamie Smith, Westgate Brass from Cardiff, and the Haverfordwest Town and County Band, conducted by Joffre Swales.

Comperes included leading figures from the world of Welsh entertainment, like Hywel James, Beverley Humphreys and Brian Harries. The Ladies Choir has appeared outside the county in some impressive programmes and venues.

Its overseas tours to Bruges, in 1995, and to Holland this year, were highlights, as were its performances in Cardiff Castle on the 50th anniversary of VJ Day and, more recently, in Brecon Cathedral. Perhaps one of the choristers most exhilarating moments came on January 2nd, 2000, when they were part of a massed choir in the BBCs Songs of Praise, in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in the presence of the Prince of Wales, and alongside artistes like Cliff Richard, Bryn Terfel and Daniel ODonnell.

Two years ago, the choir engaged its most recent musical director, Dr Nancy Mann, a native of Tennessee and the holder of a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Texas, at Austin. Nancy had earlier produced a number of musicals and operas in the USA and been associate conductor of the Crosby Capriol Singers in Southport. Bringing a remarkable combination of lyricism and precision to the choirs performance, Nancy has by now augmented its repertoire considerably, not only with the work of American composers like Aaron Copeland, but with many new songs in the Welsh language.

Since she joined the choir, it has sung in two more WALC massed concerts and recorded a CD with the other WALC choirs. Plans are currently under way for the next massed event, in June 2002, in Llanelli. Each year now seems to bring some new and memorable achievement to the choirs range.

Few who heard it will forget the joint performance with Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir in St Marys Church in the summer of 2000, and the rousing finale that evening of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Speed Your Journey).

The choir has performed this year in the Mayors Civic Service and has held the first of what it hopes will be many Sankey evenings, in Bethesda Chapel.

And now, with a strong membership (although new members are always very welcome!), with a varied and expanding repertoire and with its confidence high, the choir will be staging its tenth annual Patrons Concert in St Marys Church on Friday December 7th, at 7.30 pm. Joining them this year will be La Volta, Pembrokeshires early music group, under the direction of Dr Stuart Evans. Music lovers should not miss this chance to hear a distinctive and accomplished choir which has now fully established itself in the town.

PICTURES: Haverfordwest Ladies Choir in rehearsal under the baton of their musical director Dr Nancy Mann..

PICTURES: Kevin McCauley.