Our President
We've got a top notch team!
Sir Gerald Davies CBE DL
President
Great news: I am delighted to report that Sir Gerald Davies has agreed to be the President of Croesyceiliog Male Choir.
Howard Hicks, Concert Secretary of the Choir reports:
"Gerald Davies has agreed to become our President; Gerald is of course an Ex Welsh Rugby International and British Lion, a former President of the Welsh Rugby Union and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gwent." In 2025 he was knighted in the New Years Honours List.Our Vice President
Rodger Appleby
Vice President
Rodger had been the choir's Musical Director since 1994, having previously conducted both Caerphilly and Blaenavon Male Choirs.
Rodger was educated at Jones's West Monmouth School, Pontypool and Hull University. He studied piano under John Wheatstone and George Mantle-Childe, and conducting with Laurence Lennard. For the past 40 years, he has been actively involved in professional music making in a wide variety of contexts. For a while he left the choral scene and concentrated on composing music for Radio Wales, he also made frequent appearances as guest accompanist for celebrity concerts. In this capacity, he has twice toured the United States with Blaenavon Male Choir.
Rodger retired from his post as Director of Performing at Croesyceiliog School in 2003, joining the Gwent Music Support Service as a piano and vocal tutor as well as doing advisory work for Newport LEA in the primary sector. He is much in demand as an adjudicator, regularly adjudicating the Caerphilly Young Musician competition and rounds of the Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year.
Music Team
Musical Director
Gareth Kibble
Born in Caerphilly, Gareth attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama from year nine until the end of sixth form. Following school he attained a degree in music and his Masters Degree in Advanced Musical Studies from Cardiff University. Although piano is his principal instrument he enjoys playing saxophone, guitar and drums. Currently he leads a Soul / Funk / Rock Band named “Maddie and the Pandas” playing Keyboards, saxophone and backing vocals. He teaches piano, guitar and drums privately and at several primary schools.
Gareth is the MD of Garndiffaith Gleemen and Croesyceiliog Male Choir.
Deputy Pianist
Ceri Gifford-Berry
Ceri is the choirs deputy accompanist she studied piano and composition at the Welsh College of Music and Drama ,Cardiff and graduated with an honours degree. She completed her Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Wales Institute ,Cardiff.
Ceri began her teaching career in 1999 and was a secondary school music and performing art teacher for 13 years.
