PEMBROKE and District Male Voice Choir (P&DMVC) is tuning up for a fabulous new season of concerts in 2022 – its 70th anniversary year, with a new musical team to lead it.

Choristers have invited Juliet Rossiter to become the choir's conductor and Carole Rees to be principal accompanist. Both have a wealth of experience in Welsh choral traditions.

From an early age Juliet was involved in choral singing and at 16 became accompanist for choirs at Greenhill School, Tenby. She studied music at Swansea and has worked with several choirs, instrumentalists, soloists, operatic and theatre groups. They include Griffon Choir, Pembroke Dock, and Lansker Singers, Haverfordwest.

In 1998 Juliet became the county leader for Cor Meibion De Cymru (South Wales Male Choir) and enjoys weekly rehearsals with this group. A near 20-year association with Whitland Male Choir began in 1999 when she became their Musical Director and in 2015 she began working with ladies choir Serendipity, based in Narberth, resuming rehearsals later this year.

Retired deputy headteacher Juliet is an organist at Bethesda Baptist Church in her home town of Narberth and a fundraising volunteer for Wales Air Ambulance.

Carole, who lives in Carmarthen, started playing the piano aged five. At grammar school she played for the school choir and concerts, also for a local mixed choir. A long connection with Carmarthen Male Voice began soon after, remaining for 32 years – 27 as accompanist and five as Musical Director. The choir had successes in local and national Eisteddfodau and travelled to France, Germany, Holland and Toronto, Canada.

It was through the choir that Carole met husband Meurig, who now sings second bass in Pembroke choir.

In September 2014 Carole was asked to assist P&DMVC as accompanist and happily agreed.

Juliet and Carole succeed Christine Lloyd, who retired this summer after 55 years as accompanist and later conductor with the choir, and Jenny Griffiths who was accompanist for nearly 40 years.

They are both very excited to be working with P&DMVC and intend to continue the wonderful legacy left by Christine and Jenny and their family and maintain the high standards of choral singing in Pembroke and district.

In other appointments Dean Maiden has become secretary, succeeding Phil Lloyd who also retired this year, and John Hillier is the new chairman, with Meurig Rees as vice chairman.