Soprano Rebecca Evans, who has lived in Penarth for around 27 years, was invited to sing at the Maundy Thursday service 2nd April at St Asaph Cathedral, only the second time the ancient ceremony has ever been held in Wales. During the service the King presented traditional Maundy gifts to 77 men and 77 women in recognition of their Christian service and work in their communities.
Evans was chosen to premiere a specially written piece as the recipients stepped forward. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said. “It was a day of celebration for the people receiving the Maundy money, of which there were 77 men and 77 women, and I was chosen to sing the music that was written for me while they received this money from the King.”
The new work, titled A Sacred Benediction, was composed by Professor Paul Mealor with text by Graham Davies. “The piece was written for me,” Evans explained. “It’s just such beautiful music, straight from the heart, for the Choir of St Asaph Cathedral and the King’s Harpist. It worked so beautifully – the timing was perfect and the melody was just heaven sent.”
After the service she met the royal couple. “I did get to meet the King and Queen afterwards, which was very, very thrilling,” she said. “He was very complimentary, extremely polite as usual and full of energy, in extremely good spirits – and he met my son as well, which was also very thrilling.”
Evans, a Grammy‑winning professional opera singer who is currently performing with Welsh National Opera, originally trained as a nurse before winning a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She was awarded a CBE for services to music in 2020 and has sung in major opera houses around the world.
Music runs in the family, her mother was also a professional opera singer, and Penarth’s strong musical community has helped sustain that passion. “Penarth is very musical,” she said. “I’ve been surrounded by music all my life and I sing every day, all over the world in various opera houses. I’m lucky because I do something that I absolutely love.”
The King and Queen’s visit to St Asaph marked a significant moment for North Wales and for the cathedral, which hosted the Royal Maundy for the first time.
