A DAZZLING performance by the renowned Only Boys Aloud choir for residents at a dementia centre of excellence turned into a real family affair for one of the talented teenage singers.

Lewys Meredydd, 17, from Dolgellau was already proud to be appearing alongside fellow members of the choir at Bryn Seiont Newydd in Caernarfon but the evening was made even more special for him as his 93-year-old great-aunt was part of the appreciative audience.

The choir, which aims to introduce new generations of youngsters from across Wales to the power of music, was staging the second of its two seasonal concerts at Pendine Park’s flagship on the outskirts of the town.

Their visit came about because of the Home for Christmas project devised by Only Boys Aloud founder Tim Rhys-Evans MBE.

In conjunction with Care Forum Wales, they have been staging their rehearsals in the care homes with residents and staff for several weeks leading up to a seasonal concert.

Lewys, a sixth form pupil at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, has been a member of the choir since it started about two and a half years ago and loves every minute of performing.

He said: “I was one of the first to join and have sung with the boys at events from Access All Eirias in Colwyn Bay in 2015 to Ypres in Belgium as part of the First World War commemorations just this autumn.

“It was really great to sing at Bryn Seiont Newydd, especially as my great-aunt, Edna Jennings, is one of the residents and was listening to us.

“It’s really nice that we can come to sing at places like the home and let everyone hear our music.

“Apart from making some good friends, being a member of the choir has given me really useful experience as it’s my aim to become a professional musician, possibly a classically-trained singer, after I leave school.”

Lewys’s proud mum, Haf Meredydd, said: “He’s very keen on music and apart from being a singer he’s also a composer who’s well into the pop scene. In fact, he’s just recorded one of his pieces for i-tunes, which he hasn’t yet given a title.

“Being part of Only Boys Aloud has been really good for him. He’s made lots of friends and sung in some amazing places, including South Africa and Russia. I’m very pleased that the choir has been able to come along and perform at Bryn Seiont Newydd, particularly as my aunt Edna was here to listen to them.”

Also enjoying the choir’s performance of well-known carols such as Away in a Manger and Hark the Herald Angels Sing plus the Welsh language favourite Calon Lân and evergreen Jingle Bells was Edna’s daughter Margaret Snarr from Trawsfynydd.

“My mother has been in this home for a short time and I know she will have loved hearing the choir sing, especially as Lewys was part of it,” she said.

“When she was younger and lived in Penryhndeudraeth she loved singing herself. She took part in local eisteddfods and was a member of a pensioners’ choir.

“I think it’s marvellous that the boys have been able to come and sing at the home and the residents and relatives appreciate it very much.”

Only Boys Aloud now has more than 200 teenage boys singing with 14 choirs across Wales, including the one in Caernarfon, which rehearses each Monday evening between 6.30pm and 8.30pm at the town’s rugby club.