Côr Meibion Ystradgynlais
8
Strengthening links with the New World
Ystradgynlais already had links with the United States through Dr Daniel Protheroe who emigrated to Scranton in 1885. (See Côr Meibion Ystradgynlais 4 ).
In 1989 those links were renewed by the Choir's trip to Lackawanna County, hosted by the local St David's Society, as part of a wider North Amercan concert tour.
Tour Itinerary
Scranton - Elm Park Methodist Church - Saturday, July
22nd
Ottawa - Dominion Chaimers Church - Tuesday, July 25th
Toronto - Holy Trinity Church - Thursday, July 27th
Hamilton - Mohawk College Theatre - Saturday, July 29th
Niagara Falls - Canadian Serbian Cultural Centre - Tuesday,
August lst.
Guest Artistes - Helen Gibbon (Soprano) Alun Rhys Williams (Clarinetist)
Strengthening bonds through song
By Reg Moore, Scrantonian
Tribute Writer
A bond that began when Welsh
immigrants settled in Scranton during the infancy of the city's
iron industry was renewed Saturday morning.
The Welsh immigrants were skilled in a progressive method of
forging iron - a method they used in their own anthracite coal
region in South Wales, according to Hannah Protheroe Griffiths,
publicity officer for the Ystradgynlais Male Choir that was in
Scranton for a concert and tour.
After welcoming festivities at Court House Square in Downtown
Scranton Saturday morning, the group departed by bus for Forest
Hill Cemetery in Dumore, where they visited the gravesite of
one of their native sons and the granduncle of Mrs. Protheroe
Griffiths - Dr. Daniel Protheroe.Protheroe was a famous composer
and conductor of sacred choral music who settled in Scranton
in the 19th Century.
The festivities in the square included
some songs, and Scranton Mayor David J. Wenzel gave the choir
a key to the city.
About 100 people from northeastern Pennsylvania, many of whom
were members of the sponsoring St. David's Society of Lackawanna
County, had greeted the group earlier at Court House Square.
After thanking all of the Welsh compatriots who had come out
to the square to greet the choir, Wenzel welcomed the choir and
their supporters as "fellows from across the sea!"
Calling it a "key to the hearts of the City of Scranton",
Wenzel presented the symbol to Leyshon Davies, chairman of the
choir. "There's such a great affinity between Scranton
and Ystradgynlais " he said. "Some of the first
settlers in the city were from Ystradgynlais".
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