Sioned James Cofio

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-Sioned Nest James,

-founder of Cordydd...

-..and a pioneer in the world

-of Welsh choral singing.

-She died prematurely...

-..but contributed so much

-to Welsh culture.

-She was a friend to many.

-Back in 2013, I had the privilege

-of interviewing her.

-I think friends can be a sustenance,

-a rock, a fantastic foundation.

-Sioned's strength, without a doubt,

-was Sioned the person.

-I'll remember her as a person

-who was full of fun and laughter.

-I can't remember her

-in any other way.

-We both supported each other.

-I couldn't have wished

-for a better friend.

-She was a shining light.

-When something like that

-disappears...

-..the loss is felt so much more.

-Sioned was one of those people

-who only had one gear.

-Flat out.

-She lived life to the full.

-If you do something, do it.

-I miss her terribly...

-..as a friend.

-I'm so glad...

-..that I met her.

-Sioned James

-was a daughter of the manse...

-..and her roots were deep

-in the Llandysul area.

-Steeped in Welsh culture...

-..Sioned's short journey

-on life's paths...

-..was a mixture of successes

-and personal battles.

-Her family and friends

-were her rock.

-She was a private person...

-..with an ambition

-to put her own stamp on the world.

-It all began

-at Llandysul primary school.

-What was interesting about her...

-..as a schoolgirl

-was that she was small in stature.

-Compact.

-But she had such a strong character

-for someone so small.

-She had an inner strength too.

-An inner steel, you know.

-She'd stand up

-for anything she believed in...

-..when she was very young.

-What linked us was Penybont

-Baptist chapel in Llandysul.

-I knew her as a baby, and later,

-she sang solos at the chapel.

-The family's pew

-was directly in front of mine.

-A kind of rapport grew between us

-over the years as she grew up.

-Poor girl, she had to put up

-with my shrieking for 18 years.

-My first memory of Sioned

-is as an eight or nine-year-old.

-Her and Sian, in the gallery,

-singing their hearts out.

-One year, the late Meirion Jones

-was conducting.

-He asked the congregation

-to sing with more oomph.

-Of course, they both went for it.

-It was always true for Sioned...

-..where congregational singing

-was concerned.

-That was her great passion.

-After the service, we'd have a chat

-about life in general.

-I could see

-that she was mischievous.

-One day, she asked me

-which was my favourite hymn tune.

-I named four of them.

-Tanymarian. In Memoriam.

-Llef, Bryn Calfaria.

-She said, "Do you realize

-they're all in a minor key?"

-I realized from the outset...

-..that music

-pulsed through her veins.

-As she developed, you could see

-just how much music meant to her.

-Sioned was mischievous

-in chapel and at school.

-I was sitting in my office one day

-when she came to stand by the door.

-"I've been sent here to tell you...

-"..that I jabbed a pencil

-into one of the boys' backside."

-"Oh, Sioned, you didn't!"

-"Was it sharp?"

-"I'd just sharpened it."

-Naturally, I gave her

-quite a loud telling-off.

-"I want you to go back now...

-"..and I want you

-to apologize to him...

-"..for doing such a thing.

-"And don't do anything

-like that again."

-Off she went.

-I made sure that the children

-walked past me as they went home.

-Sioned came.

-"Did you apologize?"

-"Yes."

-"What did he say to you?"

-"Nothing."

-"So I kissed his head," she said.

-"Then what did he say?"

-"Thank you very much."

-The first time I met her properly

-was at Glan-llyn in Form 1.

-I remember seeing this girl

-who was tall and very slim.

-She had a dodgy perm and a brace.

-In a way,

-it was like looking in a mirror...

-..because that's how I looked too!

-Shared problems brought us together!

-She had some kind of spark.

-I wanted to be a part of it.

-I was always searching for mischief

-and she seemed to offer that.

-During that week in Glan-llyn,

-our relationship developed.

-From then on, we were best friends.

-Islwyn Evans, music teacher and

-Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion founder...

-..was a big influence on Sioned

-throughout her life.

-She was an Year 8 pupil,

-if I remember rightly.

-It was an exciting time in Llandysul

-as regards singing.

-I had about five school choirs

-on the go at the time.

-She would have been in all of them

-except the boys' choir.

-She'd probably be around them too,

-eyeing up one or two.

-He wasn't the most traditional

-of teachers.

-He liked to do things that weren't

-necessarily on the curriculum.

-Maybe he could see that I had

-a good ear or was musical...

-..or that the person next to me

-was musical.

-He was so keen to get Pencader and

-Pentre-cwrt farmers into the choir.

-Everyone thought he was much

-more cool than the other teachers.

-I remember her

-talking about Ysgol Gerdd.

-She introduced me to Islwyn

-at an Eisteddfod.

-"This is Islwyn. Isn't he ugly?!"

-Remarks like that. You're not.

-It was her way of saying,

-"I love this person."

-She couldn't show it, she couldn't

-say how much she loved people.

-It was immediately clear

-that she admired Islwyn...

-..and really appreciated

-the opportunity he'd given her.

-While a pupil

-at Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi...

-..Sioned secured a place in the

-National Youth Choir of Wales...

-..which went on tour

-to Leipzig in Germany in 1992...

-..conducted by the maestro

-John Hugh Thomas.

-The main event was singing in

-the Lutheran church, Thomaskirche.

-As it happens, when we were there...

-..it was Bach's anniversary.

-We were invited

-to give the concert that year.

-The place was packed.

-Another member of the choir

-on that trip to Germany...

-..was the founder of Only Men Aloud,

-Tim Rhys-Evans.

-I remember that time so well.

-I remember the music...

-..and just singing together.

-I was quite shy at that time...

-..and she was so noisy

-and so lively.

-A good laugh, really.

-One piece I really liked

-was by Pearsall, Lay A Garland.

-It's an exceptionally fine piece.

-Such a piece would connect with her,

-there's no doubt about that.

-She had been determined

-to study Welsh at Aberystwyth.

-But after this trip, she was aware

-that Music was her true passion.

-Her head said Welsh,

-and her heart said Music.

-Then, aged 18, came a turning point.

-A serious car accident,

-and months of recovery.

-Sioned made a deal with herself...

-..not to waste a second of her time

-from that point on.

-I visited Sioned in hospital.

-She was there, lying prone...

-..two days before her A levels

-were about to start.

-I think Music was her first exam.

-I saw her parents first.

-Their faith was strong.

-But Sioned's faith

-was strong as well.

-I remember a very determined girl.

-She knew

-that if she got through it..

-I think there was a 60% chance

-that she wouldn't walk again.

-Knowing that aged 18,

-that's quite a shadow.

-After a few weeks, she underwent

-surgery in Stoke-on-Trent.

-I visited her and took her a copy

-of John Rutter's Requiem.

-I knew she loved it.

-Apparently, in the hospital...

-Everything was on cassette

-at the time.

-She kept telling everyone,

-"You must listen to this."

-She insisted

-that people listen to this piece.

-If I played it once,

-I played it a hundred times.

-There's something that takes you

-to another level of emotion...

-..when I didn't know

-if I'd walk again or not.

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-When Sioned was a sixth former

-at Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi...

-..BBC Cymru

-went to Newcastle Emlyn...

-..to record Dechrau Canu Dechrau

-Canmol with several local choirs.

-Islwyn Evans insisted

-that it would be Sioned...

-..who was interviewed

-for the programme.

-"Oh, why are you

-asking me to do this?

-"I don't want to do it!"

-On a worldwide and national level...

-..I'd like to see brotherly love

-and fellowship towards others.

-To see Christ's teachings realized.

-Fraternity, love and making

-the world a happier place.

-Anyone at school might have thought

-all she did was enjoy life.

-That she had no faith, but she had

-a steadfast core sustaining her.

-Islwyn Evans went on

-to establish a new group...

-..that would draw on voices

-from across Ceredigion.

-We were called La Cappella.

-We didn't look like

-the Spice Girls, unfortunately...

-..and we didn't sing like them.

-We sang a sound that he

-always desires, a pure sound.

-It was a fantastic experience

-and the basis of Ysgol Gerdd.

-He knew what he was doing...

-..nurturing slowly

-and instilling confidence.

-You can imagine the frenzy.

-Now, instead of one

-talkative girl from Llandysul...

-..I had several talkative girls.

-Not many more talkative than Sioned,

-but it was a very exciting time.

-Sioned was a key part of that group.

-She got the chance

-to go to Patagonia.

-It was an experience

-that stayed with her.

-It was nice to see those girls

-go on to lead successful lives.

-While still recovering

-from her serious injuries...

-..Sioned went to Cardiff University.

-With her friends,

-she established the group Viva.

-They were six very talented singers.

-Different voices

-from different areas.

-Bow Street, Lampeter, Penweddig,

-Llandysul, those areas.

-They'd sing at village halls

-here and there to entertain people.

-That showed the urge she had

-to start something herself.

-I think that was

-the start of Sioned's journey...

-..offering some kind of culture

-back to other people.

-Sioned went on to win a first class

-honours degree in Welsh at Cardiff.

-It was the start of a golden age

-as she set about founding Cordydd.

-Sioned was an instinctive musician.

-Music seemed to be in her soul.

-She also had

-that wonderful ability...

-..to gather

-a group of people together...

-..to form a choir...

-..and then the remarkable formula

-to create that blend of voices.

-It's hard to create.

-It was something

-she had to convey to the choir.

-The sound at the time

-was quite unique.

-Sioned could create

-a remarkable sound in a choir.

-You might think that it wasn't

-a Welsh sound as such.

-Her research was extremely thorough.

-With Cordydd, she created a clean,

-pure, and, in a way, perfect sound.

-But there was a spirit

-in the singing.

-Cordydd was Sioned's idea.

-It was a great period.

-A social group of people

-in their twenties...

-..who wanted to carry on something

-with which they'd been brought up.

-Coming together to have a good time.

-Having established Cordydd...

-..Sioned James was making her mark

-in the world of TV and radio too.

-The first time I met Sioned,

-we'd been warned at Radio Cymru...

-..that a talented young woman

-was coming to work as a researcher.

-As one of the old guard, I'd been

-asked to take her under my wing.

-But we'd also been told

-that maybe she was a little shy.

-Within five minutes

-of her coming through the door...

-..you knew that the description

-didn't quite suit Sioned.

-Looking back, maybe there was

-a grain of truth in it...

-..but she was like a whirlwind.

-She was a breath of fresh air

-as regards her originality.

-Maybe the BBC and the traditional

-world of Welsh broadcasting...

-..wasn't ready for someone

-like her at the time.

-Fresh new ideas

-as a member of a production team.

-She didn't have

-that many opportunities...

-..but when she did, everyone knew

-that Sioned James was on the air.

-As well as working in the media...

-..Sioned tried her hand

-at being a professional agent.

-One of her clients

-was the soprano Gwawr Edwards.

-The relationship between an artist

-and an agent is important.

-That bond is very important.

-Our relationship developed

-to be something so much more.

-We became close friends.

-Our personalities were similar.

-We both liked fun in entertainment.

-In your twenties, you go from

-a child to an adult, in a way.

-She was such a big influence

-on my life.

-She really was.

-I just miss her so much.

-In 2007, with her career

-going from strength to strength...

-..and the choir becoming

-increasingly successful...

-..Sioned's conducting talent

-and broadcasting ability...

-..combined in a new series

-for S4C, Codi Canu.

-It was a pleasure for me to work

-with her on 2 series of Codi Canu...

-..where rugby fans formed choirs.

-We had to turn

-a roomful of Ospreys fans...

-..into a disciplined choir.

-Alwyn Humphreys and Sioned James.

-Neither Sioned or I

-really wanted to do it...

-..because it was totally different

-to anything we'd ever done.

-We were used to a choir

-of people who could sing...

-..and were already disciplined.

-We were being thrown

-into a rugby crowd, to be honest.

-Is there a gun here

-to shoot a few of these singers?

-Come on down!

-Some didn't know the meaning

-of choral discipline!

-They'd stand up and ask why we were

-doing something a particular way.

-Reliving the experiences

-in the car on the way back...

-..we were almost hysterical.

-Altos?

-Please be good, please be good,

-please be good, please...

-There was a serious side

-because it was a competition.

-We were both petrified

-by what would happen...

-..when we had to compete

-against the other choirs...

-I think the decision

-had been made beforehand...

-..that the Ospreys choir

-wouldn't win.

-We decided to enjoy it

-as an extraordinary experience.

-But if it wasn't for Sioned,

-I wouldn't have lasted the course.

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-Cordydd was now

-a successful choir...

-..having won many prizes at the

-National Eisteddfod, Cor Cymru...

-..and Radio Cymru's

-choral competition.

-Many young Welsh people in Cardiff

-were desperate to join.

-I remember sitting in the Pavilion,

-probably awaiting an adjudication.

-The mixed choir competition was on.

-I remember hearing Cordydd's sound.

-They grabbed my attention

-from the off.

-I knew that I was going

-to Cardiff University that year.

-I resolved to get into the choir

-one day.

-I had just left university

-and started working.

-I had nothing at all

-to do with Welsh culture.

-I'd never really been a part of it,

-not even at home.

-A Welsh learner from Fishguard

-isn't really down with the Taffia!

-But I enjoyed singing and wanted

-a way to make new Welsh friends.

-I put "Welsh choir" into Google

-and it came up.

-I remember walking

-into the vestry of Salem Chapel...

-..wanting to join the choir

-but not knowing much more.

-Should we introduce ourselves

-to Sioned?

-Was there an interview? An audition?

-Would I have to sing

-in front of everyone?

-But we soon found out...

-..that sneaking in and sitting

-at the back wasn't an option.

-That wasn't how Sioned did things.

-She stopped the rehearsal.

-"Who do we have here?"

-"What do you want to do?"

-"Introduce yourselves."

-"Do you want to sing?"

-She didn't force us to sing,

-but you knew right away.

-OK, this choir is what it is

-because of the conductor.

-If you joined Cordydd,

-you became one of Sioned's team...

-..and that was that.

-When I first became

-a member of Cordydd...

-..I remember being aware

-that it all felt very homely.

-We were accepted as a young bunch,

-the choir's youngest members.

-We were welcomed with open arms

-by every one of the members.

-Sioned created that atmosphere

-in the rehearsals.

-She managed to strike

-the right balance...

-..between having fun

-and knuckling down...

-..for a competition

-or a concert performance.

-She was a perfectionist.

-Both aspects combined

-so easily, so leisurely...

-I'm convinced

-it was that balance...

-..that led to Sioned enjoying

-so much success with the choir.

-She aimed

-for the highest standards...

-..but she didn't reach them...

-..without a great deal of spadework.

-In 2008,

-Sioned accepted an invitation...

-..to conduct Cardiff's

-Mochyn Du pensioners choir.

-She took up the challenge

-in the way she always would.

-She'd make the best

-of any situation.

-They enjoyed constant success.

-She managed to create another

-community of people in Cardiff.

-She brought

-over 80 older people together...

-..to create music typical of Sioned.

-Music of the highest standard

-for pensioner choirs...

-..because of the firm foundation

-that Sioned had put in place.

-I always think that the genius

-Sioned possessed was very rare.

-However, no-one would use Sioned's

-methods of rehearsing a choir...

-..as the basis for a textbook.

-I'm reminded

-of a quote by John Bertalot.

-"When criticizing your choir,

-be sensitive and constructive."

-Well, Sioned's way

-was to tell them...

-.."You nauseate me!"

-Sioned had her own language.

-I recall one rehearsal.

-I heard her say something and didn't

-quite understand what she had said.

-It was one of her sayings,

-and I won't repeat it.

-I turned to Luned, a fellow alto,

-and asked what Sioned had just said.

-Luned turned to me

-and wrote it down on the copy.

-Oh, right!

-The other altos saw it

-and began to laugh.

-They'd found someone else who was

-tuning in to Sioned's language.

-It could be strong,

-but you got used to it.

-That was her way of telling you

-something wasn't good enough.

-She compared us to things,

-she impersonated us.

-I remember one example.

-"Right, girls, I want this sound.

-"Boys, I want this sound,

-and altos, I want this."

-Thanks a bunch!

-The altos weren't girls.

-We were something in the middle.

-Then we all laughed.

-Afterwards,

-that cropped up regularly...

-..because she knew

-she'd touched a nerve.

-"You nauseate me!"

-Then, if it got really bad,

-"I nauseate myself!"

-Some were like chickens.

-There were other similes.

-She'd point at someone and ask

-what kind of sound they had made.

-Someone else would have

-to make a suggestion.

-She was colourful.

-Good conductors

-need to convey their emotions.

-Sioned did so

-through plain speaking.

-Some were terrified.

-Some would be shocked

-at her comments.

-There was no need to ask

-what had been said.

-But there on that copy...

-..probably

-a lovely devotional piece...

-..written in pencil, was a note

-of what exactly Sioned had said.

-With Cordydd

-going from strength to strength...

-..the next step was to release a CD.

-They recorded the piece

-that impressed her so much...

-..in hospital after the car crash.

-John Rutter's Requiem, translated

-into Welsh by Emyr Davies.

-The CD was launched

-at St Augustine's Church, Penarth.

-The mark of the greatness

-of any conductor...

-..is not just to create

-a masterpiece for a CD recording...

-..but to also maintain that standard

-in a live performance.

-I'll never forget being at

-St Augustine's Church, Penarth...

-..and hearing Cordydd

-performing the work.

-I remember feeling so privileged.

-The audience was usually close

-when you sang with Cordydd.

-Seeing people's faces,

-people you respected...

-..enjoying the performance...

-..and getting that feeling I got

-before I joined the choir...

-..and thinking, "She is creating

-something special here."

-Everyone who left the church,

-and it was packed, was speechless...

-..because we had been elevated

-to a higher spiritual plane.

-Everyone was stunned,

-not just by the choir's quality...

-..and the CD they had produced...

-..but also that they had maintained

-the standard in a live performance.

-It's an evening I'll never forget.

-Sioned and Cordydd had much success

-in the Cor Cymru competition.

-They reached the semi-final in 2005

-and the final in 2009...

-..with their enchanting performance

-of Eric Whitacre's Sleep.

-That competition

-has been a great foundation...

-..and a fantastic stage

-for choirs down the years.

-What's great about it...

-..is that it forces

-or nurtures new choirs to compete.

-The choral series

-was presented on S4C...

-..by Sioned's best friend,

-Heledd Cynwal.

-It was a strange experience

-to interview Sioned...

-..when Cordydd appeared

-on Cor Cymru.

-You can't escape the fact

-that you're close to some people.

-We were both a bit awkward

-with each other.

-We were both nervous, I think.

-It was very nice

-to see a close friend...

-..being successful on that stage.

-One of the awards

-is given to the best conductor...

-..or the most promising conductor.

-I'll never forget that year.

-Sioned James.

-She was speechless,

-with a tear in her eye.

-I was so happy,

-standing next to her.

-That she was being recognized

-for her work...

-..for the journey

-she was on with the choir.

-Competing was certainly

-all-important to Sioned.

-But concerts with world-famous

-conductors and composers...

-..counted even more for her

-as regards the choir's achievements.

-Sioned placed great emphasis

-on working with new composers.

-Having worked

-with Eric Whitacre in 2010...

-..she attracted the greats

-Paul Mealor and Morten Lauridsen...

-..to hold two concerts,

-one in Llandaff...

-..and one at St David's Cathedral.

-Sioned was a great innovator.

-One of her amazing skills

-is the sensuality of sound.

-Cordydd don't sound

-like a Welsh choir.

-They'd hate me saying that because

-they're proud of being Welsh.

-They sound

-like an international choir.

-She was obsessed with the quality

-of the vowels, the sound.

-She was drawn to composers

-like myself, Whitacre, Lauridsen...

-..who are composers

-of the sensuality of sound.

-It was a marriage

-between conductor and composer.

-She introduced their music to Wales.

-Haydn was the father

-of the symphony.

-Morten Lauridsen is the father

-of the contemporary choral world.

-I was conducting,

-shivers down the spine.

-Sioned had tears in her eyes.

-Here she was, in the presence

-of this great man, with her choir...

-..singing top drawer,

-absolute top drawer.

-The place was full in the concert.

-The whole of St David's turned out!

-What a gig!

-It was a thrill, I must be honest.

-Those minutes were important for me

-to take stock of the situation.

-That says everything about Sioned.

-Despite her confidence...

-..that nervousness

-was still evident.

-She wanted to succeed.

-She wanted to reach

-the highest level every time.

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-One of Sioned's great passions

-was her love of hymns...

-..and performing

-new arrangements of them.

-Sioned was steeped

-in congregational music.

-Hymns were very important to her...

-..as was being able

-to interpret them with the choir.

-She had passion and she had faith.

-It amazed me.

-You'd expect a musician

-to focus on the musical aspects...

-..but the words

-were so important to her...

-..maybe even more so than the music.

-Such was her love of hymns...

-..that Cordydd commissioned

-a new arrangement of Pantyfedwen...

-..to present to Sioned

-and her husband, Gareth Roberts...

-..on the occasion of their wedding.

-She liked rugby...

-..and Gareth Roberts

-likes rugby too.

-They got together.

-I just think he was blinded by her.

-It was hard not to be blinded

-by those huge blue eyes.

-They say that the eyes

-are the window to the soul.

-They certainly were

-in Sioned's case.

-On 10 August 2010,

-Sioned and Gareth got married...

-..at Penybont chapel in Llandysul.

-We were in the deacons' pew.

-She held my hand

-all the way through it.

-That was very nice.

-The choir sang wonderfully.

-It was a ceremony

-that embraced you.

-It said a lot

-about her and Gareth...

-..and everyone who had been

-a part of her life.

-Sioned had a clear affinity

-for traditional Welsh hymns.

-She introduced Craig Yr Oesoedd

-to the choir...

-..and got Jeff Howard to create

-an arrangement for Cor Cymru 2009.

-You're in the zone,

-really enjoying a song...

-..and you instinctively look

-into the conductor's eyes.

-You get a connection

-when you do that.

-Sioned knew

-when we were enjoying a song.

-You puffed your chest out.

-She had to go,

-"Rein it in now, Roche! Rein it in!"

-Her passion was totally evident.

-She wanted to make sure...

-..that the choir performed the piece

-as a Welsh anthem.

-When we sang it in the competition,

-I remember feeling a thrill...

-..that she had managed to get Jeff

-to create an arrangement...

-..that breathed new life

-into something...

-..that had been so important to her

-since the early years of her life.

-It was unique.

-Despite all the success,

-Sioned's roots remained in Newport.

-She went to Pembrokeshire

-every chance she got...

-..to escape all the attention

-and to enjoy the peace.

-Newport Pembs

-truly is my spiritual home.

-When your life's in order...

-..that's when you look back

-at what's happened in your past.

-It was so clear

-that she gave everything...

-..to conduct this choir

-that meant so much to her.

-You also think,

-that after a storm dissipates...

-..it leaves a gaping hole

-afterwards.

-Every Thursday after a rehearsal,

-I left with that empty feeling.

-She must have felt it too.

-When I think of the loss

-she must have felt...

-..in those final months and years,

-it must have been tough.

-I think that I could sense it.

-If you have that storm...

-..you have to admit

-that you have a duty...

-..towards what happens

-after the storm...

-..comes to an end.

-I think she was a person

-who felt things deeply.

-She was a rock to a lot of people.

-That's how Sioned was.

-If everyone else was OK,

-things were fine.

-But as for herself...

-..it was a case of,

-"Let me be and I'll carry on.

-"I'll deal with things

-in my own way..."

-After a spell in hospital,

-Sioned lost her battle.

-A difficult personal battle

-that had been with her for years.

-I got a phone call.

-..and I was told...

-..that she had gone...

-..and, um, just...

-..shock.

-I knew she was ill.

-To be fair, Gareth had kept

-the lines of communication open.

-Even so, when you hear that

-about a 41-year-old woman...

-..who had so much to offer

-and so much to give...

-..it was just so hard to accept.

-Yes.

-I think I broke down.

-A few days

-after Sioned's private funeral...

-..Cordydd faced

-a difficult decision.

-Would they compete at the Eisteddfod

-in Abergavenny without her?

-For a long time afterwards...

-..I couldn't shake off

-the feeling...

-..that something special

-was in danger of coming to an end...

-..and that all we could do...

-..to pay our debt...

-..to acknowledge it

-in a deserving manner...

-..was to make sure

-that it didn't end.

-As regards the future of Cordydd...

-..we would do all we could...

-..the spadework,

-the difficult conversations...

-..we would do whatever it took...

-..because now, more than ever,

-it had to be done.

-The decision was taken...

-..to carry on and compete...

-..but on one condition.

-That we would go there

-and do everything perfectly.

-For that fortnight between

-Sioned's death and the Eisteddfod...

-..everyone pulled together

-to work as a team.

-There was Huw, with those hands...

-The very same elements

-that Sioned had were there.

-I certainly felt, right, I'm giving

-this bloke everything I've got.

-He's the one standing there.

-He's the one who bears

-all the responsibility now.

-The nature of the pieces...

-..yes, we were going

-from one period to another...

-..but each one of the pieces

-had a definitive message.

-There was a reference

-to celebrating life.

-There was a reference to moving on,

-a reference to remembrance.

-The irony is, Sioned wasn't there

-to listen to the performance.

-I don't know how they managed...

-..to go from the first note

-to the last note.

-..but they all somehow held

-that performance together.

-Without a doubt, I got a thrill

-from conducting the choir...

-..at last year's Eisteddfod.

-I'm so glad that we were able to pay

-Sioned the best tribute possible.

-In October 2016, Sioned's family

-and friends gathered...

-..for a special service

-to celebrate her life...

-..arranged by Cordydd.

-It was wonderful

-to sing the old songs.

-What could be more apt than to tell

-the choir's story through music.

-That was a very special day.

-So many people

-from so many fields gathered...

-..to pay tribute to her...

-..and to talk about her.

-A medley of sadness and humour.

-Cordydd's performance that day...

-...was almost out of this world.

-I think Sioned

-would have been in her element...

-..listening to the performances.

-She'd have loved being with people

-who meant so much to her.

-Oh, that was an incredible service.

-The choir sang like I've never

-heard them sing before.

-Huw Foulkes, of course.

-I can't imagine anyone better to

-take the helm and carry on her work.

-I know that Sioned will be pleased

-that Huw is there.

-It was a service

-that screamed out Sioned James.

-As for the singing,

-the choir rose to the occasion.

-It was so difficult for them.

-Very difficult.

-It was a remarkable

-memorial service...

-..and worthy of Sioned.

-Sioned.

-"Through the lavender and tears

-"Without her,

-the laughter won't echo

-"Tonight, how can we sing our song

-"When longing holds the baton?"

-The englyn by Emyr Davies.

-What strikes me is the silence

-where there was laughter.

-Calm where there was activity.

-And that this person...

-..who was so full of life...

-..is now quiet.

-When I remember Sioned,

-I remember talking.

-In the first years,

-answering me back.

-By the end, teacher and pupil

-had become friends.

-She touched the hearts

-of so many close friends...

-..and she has left a huge void

-behind her as a friend.

-I also feel that Sioned

-wouldn't want us...

-..to weigh ourselves down

-with too much sadness.

-She was such a positive,

-happy, joyful person.

-I can hear her now,

-if she thought we were sad.

-"You nauseate me! Come on!"

-We have to try to remember

-the happy aspects of Sioned.

-She would want us to be happy

-through our sadness.

-She gave people opportunities

-that we could never have dreamed of.

-Without a doubt,

-the foundation that she laid down...

-..is something that we will

-celebrate for years to come.

-I have no doubt either

-that the name of Sioned James...

-..will be exalted for centuries...

-..in the world of Welsh

-choral singing.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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