Cantorion Ardwyn Ardwyn Singers

Musical Director David Leggett

David is a choral director and teacher based in Cardiff. He has been Music Director of the Cardiff Ardwyn Singers since 2005 and leads the Music Department of Cardiff High School.

A music graduate of Cardiff University, David furthered his studies with an MA in Musicology focusing on Polish Choral Music in the 20th century. His passion for contemporary choral music is reflected in his ambitious concert programming. This has led to several collaborations with contemporary composers including Eric Whitacre, and Welsh composers Catrin Finch and Rhian Samuel.

David has recently prepared the Cardiff Ardwyn Singers for concert performances with The Philharmonia (Holst: The Planets), Dresden Philharmonic [Beethoven: Symphony No. 9) and Eric Whitacre. He has also directed the choir in several live broadcasts for Television with BBC One and S4C and Radio 3, 4 and Classic FM. He has also toured extensively with the choir including performances at the Cathedrals of St Mark's Venice and St Stephen's in Vienna as well as St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

Youth music-making is of central importance to David’s work. He is in constant demand as a workshop leader and advisor in the field of music education. He has coached the National Youth Choirs of Wales and also leads the Children’s choir ‘Aelwyd Coed y Cwm’.

Accompanist Janice Ball BEM

Janice was born in the Swansea Valley and began playing the piano and organ as a child. She later took a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Composition at the University of Wales, Cardiff where she studied under tutors John McCabe and Patrick Piggott.

After graduating she taught piano and organ and gained a reputation as a professional accompanist to singers and choral organisations.

A television contract resulted in many guest appearances as an accompanist to a range of well -singers for HTV Wales and in 1969 she was appointed accompanist and assistant conductor to the internationally renowned Ardwyn Singers of Cardiff. She was also the accompanist of the National Youth Choir of Wales for 20 years.

As an organist Janice has played at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Washington DC, the Royal Albert Hall, Valetta Cathedral in Malta, the Sydney Opera House and also in the cathedrals of Russia and Germany. She was also invited to undertake a series of organ recitals in Barbados and Australia. For a decade Jane was Head of Music at Coleg Glan Hafren in Cardiff and now tutors at the University of Wales College Cardiff, Howells School in Llandaff and also works within the Welsh National Opera Youth and Community team.

In constant demand as a pianist and organist, Janice, who also holds a pilot’s licence, became accompanist for the Treorchy Male Voice Choir in 2002, undertaking a hugely successful tour of Australia with them as well as performing in some of the UK’s top concert venues. Jan was appointed the first female Conductor of the choir in the summer of 2007. In 2009 she led the choir on its fourth tour of Australia and first visit to New Zealand to critical acclaim.

In 2018, to celebrate 50 distinguished years as accompanist for Cardiff Ardwyn Singers, the choir commissioned and performed new music 'Tair Alaw' from Welsh composer Rhian Samuel, dedicated to Jan. The celebrations were continued into 2019 when Janice was award the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for her services to music - richly deserved!

Cyfarwyddwr Cerdd David Leggett

Athro a chyfarwyddwr cerdd wedi ei leoli yng Nghaerdydd yw David. Ef yw cyfarwyddwr cerdd Cantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd ers 2005 ac ef yw pennaeth adran gerdd Ysgol Uwchradd Caerdydd.

Yn raddedig o Brif Ysgol Caerdydd aeth ymlaen i astudio ar gyfer eiMA mewn Cerddoleg gan ganolbwyntio ar gerddoriaeth gorawl Bwyleg yn ystod yr 20fed ganrif. Adlewyrchir ei angerdd am gerddoriaeth gorawl yn ei raglennu uchelgeisiol ac yn sgil hyn mae wedi cydweithio’n helaeth gyda chyfansoddwyr cyfoes megis Eric Whitacre a chyfansoddwyr o Gymru megis Catrin Finch a Rhian Samuel.

Yn ddiweddar paratodd David Cantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd ar gyfer cyngherddau gyda cherddorfa y Philarmonia (Holst: Y Planedau), cerddorfa y Philarmonic Dresden ( 9fed Symffoni Beethoven) ac Eric Whitacre. Yn ogystal cyfarwyddodd y côr mewn nifer o ddarllediadau gyda BBC1,S4C a Radio 3, 4 a Classic FM. Mae wedi teithio yn helaeth gyda’r côr gan berfformio yn Eglwysi Cadeiriol St. Mark, Fenis, St. Stephen’s Fienna yn osystal â Basilica St Pedr,Dinas y Fatican.

Mae creu cerddoriaeth gyda phobl ifanc yn ganolog i’w waith. Mae galw cyson arno fel ymgynghorydd ac arweinydd mewn gweithdai ym maes addysg gerddorol. Mae wedi hyfforddi Corau Ieuenctid Cymru ac ef yw un o arweinwyr Aelwyd Coed y Cwm.

Cyfeilydd Janice Ball BEM

Yng Nghwm Tawe y ganed Janice a dechreuodd ganu’r piano a’r organ ym more’i hoes. Yn ddiweddarach cymerodd radd Baglor Cerddoriaeth mewn Cyfansoddi Cerddorol ym Mhrifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd lle’r astudiodd dan y tiwtoriaid John McCabe a Patrick Piggott.

Ar ôl graddio bu’n athro’r piano a’r organ ac ennill bri’n gyfeilydd proffesiynol i gantorion a chyrff corawl.

Yn sgìl cytundeb teledu ymddangosodd droeon yn gyfeilydd gwadd i amryfal gantorion adnabyddus i HTV Cymru ac ym 1969 fe’i penodwyd yn gyfeilydd ac yn arweinydd cynorthwyol Cantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd sy’n fawr eu bri drwy’r gwledydd. Roedd hefyd yn gyfeilydd Côr Cenedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru am ugain mlynedd.

Yn organydd, chwaraeodd Janice yn yr Eglwys Gadeiriol Fetropolitanaidd yn Washington DC, y Royal Albert Hall, Eglwys Gadeiriol Valetta ym Malta, Ty^ Opera Sydney a hefyd yn eglwysi cadeiriol Rwsia a’r Almaen. Fe’i gwahoddwyd hefyd i roi cyfres o ddatganiadau organ ym Marbados ac Awstralia. Am ddegawd roedd Jan yn Bennaeth Cerddoriaeth yng Ngholeg Glan Hafren yng Nghaerdydd ac mae’n awr yn diwtor yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Caerdydd, Ysgol Howells yn Llandaf a hefyd yn gweithio yn nhîm Ieuenctid a Chymuned Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru.

Mae galw cyson amdani’n bianydd ac yn organydd ac yn 2002 daeth Janice, sydd hefyd yn dal trwydded peilot, yn gyfeilydd Côr Meibion Treorci a mynd ar daith ysgubol o lwyddiannus yn Awstralia gyda nhw yn ogystal â pherfformio yn rhai o bennaf oedfannau cyngerdd gwledydd Prydain.

Penodwyd Jan yn Arweinydd benywaidd cynta’r côr yn haf 2007. Yn 2009 arweiniodd y côr ar ei bedwaredd daith yn Awstralia a’i dro cyntaf am Seland Newydd lle’r oeddent yn fawr eu clod gan y beirniaid.

Yn 2018, i ddathlu 50 mlynedd nodedig fel cyfeilyddes Cantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd, comisynodd a pherfformiodd y côr darn cerddorol newydd o’r enw ‘Tair Alaw’ gan Rhian Samuel, cyfansoddwraig o Gymru, a hynny fel teyrnged i Janice. Parhaodd y dathlu yn 2019 pan dderbyniodd Janice Fedal yr Ymerodraeth Brydeinig am ei gwasanaeth i Gerddoriaeth o restr Anrhydeddau Blwyddyn Newydd y Frenhines. Gwobr a chlod haeddiannol iawn.