OUR CYNTHIA DAVIES IN AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE

Two term President of the Welsh Congregation Church Council, Cynthia Davies recently performed at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem as member of Breathless Choir.

The choirmaster was none other than the internationally acclaimed Gareth Malone, and, yes, he has Welsh roots: his grandmother is from "Breathless" because all eighteen members of the choir suffer from severe breathing difficulties. The Breathless Choir includes two first responders from September 11th who suffer chronic breathing difficulties and other debilitating illness since exposure to the toxic dust of the World Trade Center disaster.

Cynthia has managed a condition called Bronchiectasis for 35 years (as well as a very full time career as an art teacher.) She now requires oxygen on exertion, which gave her the opportunity to receive instruction from the most famous choirmaster in Britain, and the chance to return to the gym and something she always loved, singing. It was an unique and gratifying opportunity.

Cynthia, a fluent Welsh speaker is from Ammanford in Carmarthenshire in Wales, and has been a member of the Welsh Congregation since 1983.

More about Breathless Choir from the British press can be found here and here. A video was launched on November 14, 2015 for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day to create awareness of COPD, which can be seen below.

Cynthia has also been invited by BBC Radio Cymru's Shan Cothi to talk in Welsh about her experiences with the choir.