Mrs Rachel Donnelly
Rachel Donnelly - Accompanist
I started playing the piano with Simon Gratton aged about 10, which means I have been playing for 30 years (now I feel old!!!!), I passed all my piano exams grade 1-8. I attended Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School and was part of the school choir and school orchestra in which I played violin; I later moved onto the viola and joined the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra. I studied music at A-level at Neath college then went to London to study music at Thames Valley University, but I left after the first year which I passed as I didn't enjoy London (very scary place compared to little ol' Neath!) Came back from London and through a friend joined Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir. It's best thing I ever did and I have been with the choir for over 20 years. I am currently employed with South Wales Police as a controller working in the Public Service Centre in Bridgend HQ, I have been there for 17 years and still love the job. I have recently joined the Bluelight Choir in work as a singer and really enjoy it. I love playing for all concerts, but a couple stick out e.g. playing for the choir and also Catherine Jenkins in a church in Port Talbot, this was just before she was famous but it's now my claim to fame!, Barcelona was also an amazing tour which I will never forget, and of course playing for Anthony Hopkins' 70th birthday, although I think I nearly fainted when he came to shake my hand at the end (very star struck!!). I have played the piano for Tonna Male Voice Choir on a few occasions, playing at the Gwyn Hall in Neath for their Annual Concert and previously helped out in rehearsals (my auntie is the musical director, my cousin plays the piano and three of my uncles sing in the choir!). We are a very musical family and I am very blessed to have so much support from my mother and father, sisters and, of course, my husband who puts up with me disappearing every week! I absolutely love playing for Pelenna, they are the nicest, funniest and most entertaining people I have ever met, I thoroughly enjoy attending rehearsals every week and I consider the choir as my second family, I am so well looked after all the time as quite often it's me and about 30 men, but throughout my life anything I have done musically being with Pelenna has been the best and will be until I’m old and grey and my fingers don’t work anymore!!!!