STEP BACK IN TIME: I apologise and grovel to anyone confused by last week's article, called Music in the Market. (I certainly was.) It was of course last year's article re-sent by mistake.
This was due to a technical problem, The technical problem being me not having my glasses on when I sent it. So without further ado This is this year's version.
MUSIC IN THE MARKET: Anyone looking for good reasons to be proud of Newport, I can give you38 to start with. That is, the 36 members of the City of Newport Male Choir who performed a free concert at Newport market on Saturday, plustheir talented accompanist, Barbra Davies, and their inspirational musical director, Frank Jones.
Their performance in the magnificent setting of the Market Gallery (how can anyone suggest that there are no nice buildings in Newport?) was a riot of colour and first-class music.
With an audience that grew by the minute, many of who were drawn up from the ground floor due to the amazing acoustics in the market, the choir delivered an hour-long set that was as bright as the sunshine streaming through the picture windows behind them.
Giving a flavour of their versatility, the choir managed to fit a wide variety of music styles into a very compact one-hour set, ranging from traditional Welsh hymns to showstoppers and modern-day classics.
They somehow even managed to find time to let the choirboy wonder, Luke Farley, sing two first-class solos. Looking as smart as ever, it was obvious that the choir as always were enjoying themselves as much as their audience.
Not content with bringing out the very best in his choristers, Frank Jones positively encouraged audience participation for some of their songs. The best example of this was the choir accompanied by the massed ranks of Saturday-morning shoppers singing a haunting version of Danny Boy.
Finishing precisely on the stroke of noon, as agreed with the market management, once again the choir won themselves many new friends and admirers.
More importantly, to visitors from outside Newport they portrayed an image of our city that certainly made me feel proud of them.
WORLD PREMIER: April 16, 2007 saw the premier of a film made by local youngsters aptly named A(nti)S(ocial)B(ehaviour)O(n-screen). This film was produced by the YELL (Young Empowered Lliswerry Leaders) project involving youngsters predominantly from Moorland and Broadmead.
The showing was a real red-carpet event with VIPs including the mayor and mayoress, Assembly Member John Griffiths, senior and local police officers , senior council officers, youth workers, council rangers. ward councillors, community workers, residents, mums, dads and the children themselves. Just about everyone and anyone either affected by or involved in the battle against anti-social behaviour.
The short film was deemed a great success and will be a powerful tool to help highlight the problem and educate how to beat it.
The project was set up for young people, to have the opportunity to explore the notion of Anti-Social Behaviour; what is it?, who does it? and what can we do about it?
The film was the work of eight young people, Jessica Axton, Sophie Freeman, Paige Griffiths, Theo Hennah, Kelsey Knorz, Montana Lewis, Kirsty Vincent and Kayleigh Williams, supported by Arts Development (Pilipala Film, Community Development, Zena Beirne and Newport Youth Service (YELL Project) youth workers Kelly McCarthy, Bethan Tucker, Sam James, Heather Edwards and Karen Cleverly.
The film depicted the young people and some of the workers walking the Moorland estate and Bettws estate filming evidence of anti- social behaviour, ie graffiti, fly-tipping, vandalism etc and re-enacting scenes of anti-social behaviour. It also involved the young people carrying out a series of interviews with peers, residents, community and youth workers, Gwent Police and local councillors around the notion of anti-social behaviour.
This film worked to de-sensationalise the notion of anti-social behaviour and encourage the young people to have the confidence to say "no", to participating in such behaviour.
CROMWELL YOUTH AFC: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the magnificent Cromwell. To mark the occasion the club are holding a celebratorary evening of entertainment and nostalgia on Frida, June 8,at Newport Centre.
It is impossible to count just how many youngsters have passed through this club in its 50 years of existence. It is also impossible to calculate how many youngsters have been steered away from mischief by the huge commitment of the adults who dedicate their time and effort to training, coaching and supporting them.
There must be thousands of people out there with great stories to tell about their time at the club or photographs that would help make a great exhibition. If you have a tale to tell the club want to hear it to use as part of the night. If you can help please contact Mike Anthony on 664450.
The celebratory evening promises to be a cracker, and the hottest tickets in town are going fast.
A few are still available from either Mike Anthony or Gaynor Brittan on 665742.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article