Music Staff
Stewart Roberts MA,LRSM,PGCE
Musical Director
Stewart Roberts spent his childhood in Pembrokeshire, and when the family moved to Treorchy, he was educated at Treorchy Comprehensive School. Whilst at Treorchy he was taught by our late conductor emeritus of Treorchy Male Choir, John Cynan Jones M.Mus,BA,ATCL and studied piano with our former accompanist Jennifer Jones BEM,GRSM,LRAM, B.Mus.
Whilst at Cardiff University of Wales he studied piano with Richard McMahon and Caroline Rae and also the cello with Chris Hodges. In 1995, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree, and was awarded the Eleanor Amy Bowen Scholarship, which enabled him to pursue his Master's Degree in 1996.
Stewart graduated from Cardiff University with a Master of Arts Degree in 1996.
He was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music before becoming the conductor of Dowlais Male Choir from 2000-2007.
In 2001, Stewart gained the LRSM Diploma in Piano Performance.
Stewart has had a very successful eleven years with Pendyrus Male Choir, making them one of Wales' leading male choirs.
As a solo pianist, Stewart has performed concertos by Grieg, Shostakovich, Mozart and Beethoven. As a cellist, he has also given many solo performances, most notably Karl Jenkins’ 'Benedictus' from 'The Armed Man' at a concert at Saint David's Hall, Cardiff in 2014.
Stewart's passion for male choral singing was ignited when he was appointed accompanist to Côr Meibion Morlais at the age of sixteen.
Stewart currently teaches in Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, Y Pant Comprehensive School and Treorchy Comprehensive School giving instrumental and vocal lessons in addition to GCSE and A Level tuition.
Ryan Wood
Deputy Conductor
Ryan’s interest in music developed at an early age and he began working with choirs at the age of 13 as an accompanist. He is currently accompanist to Cor Meibion Maesteg a’r Cylch and has regularly accompanied some of the most high profile choirs in Wales including the Treorchy and Pendyrus male choirs.
He accompanied Only Men Aloud for part of their summer tour last year and regularly accompanies rehearsals with both Only Boys Aloud and Only Kids Aloud.
Ryan is much in demand as an accompanist to soloists and has accompanied Grammy award winning soprano Rebecca Evans, as well as soloists of great renown including John Owen Jones, Angharad Morgan, Gary Griffiths and world renowned bass baritone, Sir Willard White.
He is the regular accompanist for husband and wife vocal duo, Cantare and has appeared with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera at St. David’s Cathedral.
As a conductor, Ryan has formed a mixed choir called ‘Noteworthy’ who celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2016. His talents as a conductor were recognised in early 2010 when he conducted a performance of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus for a live broadcast on BBC Radio Wales. Ryan is an official accompanist for the Dunraven Young Welsh Singer competition and also forms part of the judging panel for the audition stage.
He has also adjudicated various competitions including the Treorchy Eisteddfod Young Musician of the Year and the Treorchy Eisteddfod.
He is an official accompanist for the Treorchy Eisteddfod. Ryan has made television appearances on S4C’s ‘Heno’ programme and the National Eisteddfod.
He has accompanied masterclasses given by Helen Field, John Fisher and Dennis O’Neill. Future plans include ‘A Tribute to Paul Robeson’ with Sir Willard White guest appearances with various and concerts with Cantare. He will also conduct a performance of the Fauré Requiem for the Milford Haven Festival.
Helen Roberts B.Mus.
Accompanist
Helen Roberts was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. She started to learn a variety of musical instruments at an early age including the flute and violin but soon developed an aptitude for the piano.
She joined the West Wiltshire Young Musicians and at the age of ten won the prestigious Honeywell Cup for outstanding musicianship.
While she was studying at the Clarendon School, Helen was in popular demand as an accompanist and during this time played the piano in a command performance at Longleat House at the request of Lord Bath himself.
In 2000, Helen became the principal accompanist for the Silver Ring Choir of Bath, during which time she undertook concert tours of Germany and Holland.
Following a concert in 2003 featuring the Silver Ring Choir and Treorchy Male Choir, Helen was invited to become the deputy accompanist to Treorchy and joined them on their successful tour of Australia in 2004.
She was also presented with Honorary Lady Membership of the Choir in 2007.
Following four years as a pupil of Fazliddin Husanov, the eminent Russian pianist and recording artist, Helen graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff in 2007.
Helen accompanied the Treorchy Male Choir on their three week tour of Australia & New Zealand in 2009 with performances at all the major concert halls including the Sydney Opera House.
Helen has successfully accompanied the choir on three occasions to Monaco where guests included Dame Shirley Bassey and Rhys Ifans.
Most recently, she has been involved with numerous operatic and musical theatre groups such as Cardiff University Operatic Society and Radyr Music Society where she has lead and directed rehearsals.
Helen is an official accompanist for the South Glamorgan Festival for Young Musicians as well as a number other music festivals for children of all ages. She has also been heavily involved over a number of years with the Rotary by accompanying singers and instrumentalists in their music competitions.
Alongside her active musical life, Helen completed a PGCE working in secondary schools. She has worked with many organisations delivering educational music projects for both adults and children, including the National Dance Company Wales and Hijinx Theatre Company.