The League of Friends of Brecon War Memorial Hospital recently held a successful concert in The Plough Chapel, Brecon.

Aberhonddu and District Male Choir took part in the evening concert with numerous bilingual songs, conducted by Lynnette Thomas and Lynne Griffin.

The audience was also entertained by two soloists - Wynne Rees and Maryna Korolovo. 

Wynne is well known locally having sung with the choir from 1983 to 2003 until taking up his solo appearances in 1985. He was fortunate to study with the late Gerald Davies who had been principle tenor with the Sadler’s Wells Operatic Company. 

Maryna describes herself as a refugee from Ukraine. She was born in the east of Ukraine in the city of Donetsk which was founded by the Welsh engineer John Hughes. In 2014 she was forced to leave Donetsk to escape Russian aggression. In 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, Maryna’s family were forced to save their lives for a second time. Maryna was pregnant at the time and gave birth to her third child in a bomb shelter. Maryna and her family have now settled in Wales.

The evening concluded with the Welsh national anthem and the Ukraine hymn sung passionately by Maryna. 

The League of Friends of Brecon War Memorial Hospital are always grateful for the support of the community with their fundraising events.