Soloist raises her voice for cause (From Penarth Times)

Soloist raises her voice for cause

A PENARTH woman will take the stage as a guest soloist for the evening, when Cardiff-based female vocal ensemble Vivace Singers appear in a fund-raising concert for The Neiline Morris Thought for the Future Trust.

Soloist Vivien Care is a founder member of Vivace Singers and she will be joined by Only Men Aloud!

The fund-raising concert, which takes place on October 5, will raise proceeds for the trust, which helps families through cancer care.

Neiline Morris is sister to Kirsten Offer, another founder member of Vivace Singers.

She is a 25-year-old cancer sufferer with two children under five, who has set up a trust to raise much-needed money for cancer research.

The proceeds from this concert are likely to be split between the local branch of Cancer Research UK and the Velindre Trust.

Penarthian Vivien Care, has most recently appeared on London's West end as Madame Thnardier, in the legendary Cameron Mackintosh West End production of Les Miserables. She is a personal friend of Neiline's and is making a special appearance to help widen the support base for her trust in Wales.

The Neiline Morris Thought for the Future is a trust being set up to distribute money to cancer research organisations within the UK, and help families who are suffering whilst a member of their family battles to survive their cancer.

Having already raised £5,500 from its first event, the trust is looking to widen its support base.

The concert will provide an ideal platform to enjoy good music whilst raising funds for a worthy cause.

The group, Vivace Singers was created in February 1998 from students of the Welsh College of Music and Drama to perform a wide variety of accompanied and a cappella choral music from the sixteenth century to the present day.

The true ensemble feel is created through there being no musical director of the group. The singers have a broad repertoire of music from sacred to gospel, folksong to jazz.

Performing frequently in Wales they have also made an impact further afield, appearing as guest Artistes of local Male Voice Choirs in Caerphilly and Chepstow, the Women's Institute at St David's Hall in Cardiff, as well as performing at Warwick University and the Halifax Chamber Music Festival in 1999. The singers have also performed on a number of BBC radio broadcasts.

The concert will take place at All Saints Church, Penarth, on October 5, at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £10, are available in advance, by telephoning 029 2041 9850, or alternatively on the door.