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 Nicola Rose
Nicola Rose’s musical journey began as one of the founding Girl Choristers at Salisbury Cathedral. She later went on to study piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, continuing as a Junior Fellow there before completing her training at the National Opera Studio in London.
As a pianist and répétiteur, she has worked with Welsh National Opera, Opera Holland Park, Longborough Festival Opera, Music Theatre Wales, and Barefoot Opera. In 2018, Nicola gained critical acclaim as the Musical Director for Welsh National Opera’s production of Rhondda Rips It Up!, a newly commissioned work by Elena Langer and Emma Jenkins that highlights the story of Welsh suffragette Margaret Mackworth.
Beyond the opera house, Nicola is deeply committed to outreach and community work. Since 2011, she has worked as a pianist and Music Leader for The Forget-Me-Not Chorus, a Welsh charity dedicated to bringing the joy of singing to those living with and alongside dementia. She is also an alumna of Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now! scheme and Lost Chord, both of which aim to transform lives through the power of music.
Currently based in Cardiff, Nicola is part of the vocal faculty at RWCMD> Her freelance career as a vocal coach, accompanist, and répétiteur continues to flourish across the UK.
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 Nicola Rose
Dechreuodd siwrnai gerddorol Nicola Rose fel un o aelodau benywaidd cyntar côr Caderilan Sailsbury. Yn ddiweddarach, aeth ymlaen i astudio’s piano yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, gan barhau fel Cymrawd Iau yno cyn cwblhau ei hyfforddiant yn National Opera Studio Llundain.
Fel pianydd a répétiteur, mae hi wedi gweithio gydag Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Operall Holland Park, Longborough Festival Opera, Music Theatre Wales, a Barefoot Opera. Yn 2018, cafodd Nicola ganmoliaeth fawr am ei rôl fel Cyfarwyddwr Cerdd y cynhyrchiad '‘Rhondda Rips It Up!” gan Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, sef gwaith comisiwn newydd sbon gan Elena Langer ac Emma Jenkins yn cyflwyno’r stori’r swffragét Gymreig, Margaret Mackworth.
Y tu hwnt i’r tŷ opera, mae gan Nicola ymroddiad dwfn tuag at waith allgymorth a chymunedol. Ers 2011, mae hi wedi gweithio fel pianydd ac Arweinydd Cerdd ar gyfer The Forget-Me-Not Chorus, elusen Gymreig sy’n ymroi i gyflwyno’r llawenydd a geir o ganu i’r rhai sy’n byw gyda dementia. Mae hi hefyd yn gyn-fyfyriwr cynllyn ‘Live Music Now!’ a Lost Chord Yehudi Menuhin, sydd ill dau yn anelu at weddnewid bywydau drwy rym cerddoiaeth.
A hithau bellach yng Nghaerdydd, mae Nicola yn aeold o adran llasi Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru. Mae ei gyrfa lawrydd fel hyfforddwr llais, cyfeilydd a répétiteur yn parhau i ffynnu ledled y DU.