In 1993, Mike Cottam, a former estate farm manager in Pembrokeshire, with a strong musical background and who had, after ordination in St, David's Cathedral, been inducted as vicar into the Llangadog group of churches, presented a performance of Messiah in St. Cadog's Church, with local singers and elements of the orchestra which he had previously directed in Haverfordwest Operatic Society. 

From that concert, Symphonica Tywi was born and has developed since then to become nationally well known. This year, it is celebrating its 33rd anniversary of its formation by performing four concerts of popular and excitingworks in different venues throughout Wales, including at the Torch Theatre.

The orchestra today comprises up to seventy professional,semi-professional or gifted amateur musicians, of all ages and specialises in fostering the careers of young Welsh vocal and instrumental soloists, whose talents are now acclaimed on national and international concert platforms. Rhys Watkins, Rakhi Singh and Charlie Lovell-Jones among others, all performed their first concert as members of Symphonica Tywi, which in 2003, also hosted the concert debut for a shy young soprano from Neath, Katherine Jenkins who, for her first performance with an orchestra, sang the title role of Carmen.

Over the 33 years of its existence, Symphonica Tywi has performed well over 150 concerts throughout Mid, South and West Wales, presenting a great number of symphonies, concertos, film scores and programme music, both classical and contemporary, by many great composers, as well as commissioned works by local composers. For the first 23 years, the orchestra also accompanied Cantorion Tywi, its large sister symphony choir, which had also been formed by Mike in 1993. 

Orchestra and choir together presented many major oratorios and requiems through the years, as well as other large scales sacred and secular works in cathedrals, halls and churches throughout Wales, before the choir's disbanding 10 years ago when Mike and Caroline his wife retired back to Pembrokeshire.

One highlight was a major BBC 2 documentary about the orchestra called Valley of Song, broadcast in sixepisodes in 2016. Over the two year's filming of this mainstream production, cameras followed the ups and downs of an amateur orchestra, highlighting the daily lives of several of its members. The programme turned out to be an international success when sold around the world by the BBC. 

The current leader of Symphonica Tywi is Owen Morgan, a very respected local violinist and teacher, with the 'leader emeritus' being Rhys Watkins, a founder member of the orchestra and who for many years was a first violinist with the London Symphony Orchestra. He is currently working in Thailand but, when he is back in the U.K., he turns to the first violins of the LSO and to lead Symphonica Tywi as guest, whenever he can.

Film Fantastics, all music from the movies including Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and Les Misérables can be seen on the Torch Theatre stage on Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm. Tickets £25. Phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 / visit torchtheatre.co.uk or click here.