Ardwyn%20photos%2011th%20Nov%202007%20100.jpgJan Ball was born in the Swansea Valley and began playing the piano and organ as a child. She later followed a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Composition at the University of Wales, Cardiff where she studied under tutors John McGabe and Patrick Piggott. Following her graduation she taught piano and organ and gained a reputation as a professional accompanist to singers and choral organisations.

A television contract resulted in many guest appearances as an accompanist to a range of well-known singers for HTV Wales and in 1969 she was appointed accompanist and assistant conductor to the internationally renowned Ardwyn Singers of Cardiff. She was also the accompanist of the National Youth Choir of Wales for 20 years.

As an organist she has played at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Washington D.C., the Royal Albert Hall, Valetta Cathedral in Malta, the Sydney Opera House and also in the cathedrals of Russia and Germany. She was also invited to undertake a series of organ recitals in Barbados and has more recently undertaken tours to Australia as accompanist to the Morriston Orpheus Male Choir. For a decade Jan was the Head of Music at Coleg Glan Hafren in the Welsh capital and now tutors at the University of Wales College of Cardiff, Howells School in Llandaff and also works with the Welsh National Opera Education Programme.

In constant demand as a pianist and organist, Jan, who also holds a pilot’s licence, became the Choir’s accompanist in 2002. She has since undertaken a hugely successful tour of Australia with them as well as performing in some of the UK’s top concert venues. Following a period as Deputy Conductor, she was appointed the first female Conductor of the Treorchy Male Choir in the summer of 2007.

Ganwyd Jan yng Nghwm Tawe a dechreuodd ganu'r piano a’r organ yn blentyn. Yn ddiweddarach dilynodd gwrs gradd Baglor mewn Cerddoriaeth mewn Cyfansoddiad Cerddorol ym Mhrifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd ble yr astudiodd o dan y tiwtoriaid John McGabe a Padrig Piggott. Ar ôl graddio, addysgodd y piano a’r organ ac enillodd enw am gyfeilydd proffesiynol i gantorion a sefydliadau corawl.

O ganlyniad i gontract teledu, cafodd lawer o ymddangosiadau gwadd fel cyfeilydd i amrywiaeth o gantorion adnabyddus ar gyfer HTV Cymru ac yn 1969 daeth yn gyfeilydd ac arweinydd cynorthwyol i Gantorion Ardwyn Caerdydd. Bu hefyd yn gyfeilydd Côr Cenedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru ers 20 mlynedd.

Fel organydd bu’n perfformio yn yr Eglwys Gadeiriol Metropolitan yn Washington D C., Neuadd Frenhinol Albert, Eglwys Gadeiriol Valetta ym Malta, Tŷ Opera Sydney a hefyd mewn eglwysi cadeiriol yn Rwsia a’r Almaen, Fe’i gwahoddwyd hefyd i ymgymryd â chyfres o ddatganiadau organ ym Marbados ac yn ddiweddar aeth ar deithiau i Awstralia fel cyfeilydd Côr Meibion Orffews Treforys. Bu Jan hefyd yn Bennaeth Cerddoriaeth yng Ngholeg Glan Hafren ym Mhrifddinas Cymru ac erbyn hyn mae’n diwtor ym Mhrifysgol Cymru Caerdydd, Ysgol Howells yn Llandaf ac mae hefyd yn gweithio gyda Rhaglen Addysg Cwmni Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru.

Fel pianydd ac organydd poblogaidd, daeth Jan, sydd hefyd â thrwydded peilot, yn gyfeilydd i Gôr Meibion Treorci yn 2002 ac, ar ôl cyfnod fel Dirprwy Arweinydd, fe’i penodwyd fel y ferch gyntaf i fod yn Arweinydd ar y Côr yn ystod haf 2007.