Seren Bethle'm

Côr Rhuthun is a mixed voice choir of some 50 voices from Ruthun in north Wales. The acclaimed musician Robat Arwyn is the choir’s musical director and conductor, also the composer of many of the choir’s songs and works. The choir was formed as a youth choir in 1981 by the late Morfydd Vaughan-Evans, to compete in the Urdd Eisteddfod. She was twice honoured by the Gorsedd of Bards, first with the green robe and then, in the National Eisteddfod in Newport in 2004, with the white robe. There have been many television and radio appearances over the years, and the choir has released 8 records and CDs. Their repertoire currently features songs and pieces by contemporary Welsh composers such as Karl Jenkins and Richard Vaughan and Patagonian Héctor Macdonald. Choir highlights include an invitation to perform at the Ontario Welsh Festival in Canada in 2015; performing and recording Robat Arwyn’s commission work at the National Eisteddfod 2001 – Atgof o’r Sêr (Memory of Stars) – with world-renowned baritone Bryn Terfel and soprano Fflur Wyn. At the Denbighshire National Eisteddfod in 2013, the choir was a key element of the sell-out opening concert Caneuon Robat Arwyn. The choir is proud of its continuing association with former member Rhys Meirion, now an international operatic tenor and the success of Blue Riband winner Meirion Wyn Jones, baritone, the soprano soloist Kate Griffiths and the young tenor, Elis Jones – all three valued members of the choir who have contributed to this recording.