Côr Meibion Gwent History

English

Welsh

The Choirs

Beaufort Male Choir

The Beaufort Male choir was founded in 1897, and the highlight of the choirs competition career prior to WW2, was winning the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1926.

After the War the choir reformed in 1948, Entering their first competition shortly afterwards achieving a creditable second place at Kington.  Up until 1964 the choir performed in various competitions and was awarded sixteen first prizes, two second prizes, and a third prize. Then in 1965 the decision was taken to concentrate on Concert work, which is in many ways more musically satisfying, this policy remains to this day.    

The choir has performed to enthusiastic audiences all over the U.K, in 1984 the choir was invited to perform in Kensington Palace entertaining foreign dignitaries attending a government conference.  It has had successful tours all over Europe.        In Germany singing in the beautiful Cologne Cathedral and in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall  the first non- professional organisation to be awarded this honour.

1993 saw the Choir on a very successful tour of Malta an unforgettable experience – an outstanding choir were the reports in the “Malta Times”.

Blaenavon Male Choir

Blaenavon Male Choir can trace its roots back to 1910 although there is evidence to suggest that groups of men gathered together to sing in harmony as early as 1893.

Over the years the choir has enjoyed an enviable record of competition successes, including being undefeated for a period of three years.  This proud tradition of male voice singing continues today and many international Opera stars have performed with the choir.

Concert tours abroad have included visits to Norway, Hungary, France, South Carolina and in 1996 the choir made its first visit to California.

The choir are proud of their performances with brass and military bands The Royal Welch Fusilliers, The Royal Air Force, and The Royal Marines.

Caldicot Male Choir

Caldicot was one of the youngest choirs from those that Côr Meibion Gwent drew its members, but is one of the largest

The choir was formed in 1963 by workmen from all over Wales who came to man the new Steel works at Llanwern  near  Newport.  The choir quickly established itself, and can look back today on its achievements and  successes in the competition arena obtaining 1st prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and 5 places at the Miners Eisteddfod.

The choir has toured abroad many times with visits to USA, Canada, Holland, Germany, etc, and are justly proud that the vast majority of their concerts are for charitable causes.

None gave the choir more pride than singing with the Three Tenors at Wembley Stadium, and in June 2002 were invited to Buckingham Palace to take part in the Queens Golden Jubilee .

The choir celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2003 with a tour of Austria.

Cwmbran Male Choir

Cwmbran Male Choir was formed in 1964 as a result of the developing New Town. Many of its members had been travelling to sing with older established choirs and welcomed the chance to join this local choir.

As with other choirs, most of their concerts are performed for charitable causes and to this end they travel the UK for these charities.  The choir has strong links with Bad Langenbruken Male Choir in Germany, and since 1972 have regularly exchanged visits with them.   In 1979 the choir were very proud to represent Wales at the Interceltic Festival in Lorient Brittany.  In 1983  the choir undertook a successful tour of California and more recently N Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and S Ireland .  During their Scottish tour

In2000 they sang with two Scottish choirs and helped to raise over £4,500 for charity. They toured Jersey in 2001 and raised over £1000 for charity during their tour towards a Romanian Orphanage

Cwm Male Choir

The origins of Cwm Male Choir are traced back to 1920, when all of its members originated from the Grieg  Colliery, as it was then called before later becoming Marine colliery.  They took the name of Cwm  Apollo Choir and thrived on their love of singing through their strong religious backgrounds.

It was during the forties that they amalgamated with a choir from another local colliery in Waunllwydd. The choir became the Waun-Cwm Gleemen until 1965 when they changed it to their present title of Cwm Male Choir .

With the mines long gone and the congregations in chapels and churches dwindling, the choir’s love of singing continues strongly and members now come from all walks of life.

The choir proudly carries its name throughout the British Isles, with TV appearances on both British and German stations the choir has been able to take its music to a much wider audience. 

Garndiffaith Gleemen Male Choir

The Choir was formed in 1948 and is no stranger to competition and has gained 21 1st places in Eisteddfodau. It was also placed 1st in an international competition in Wiesloch Germany in the 1980’s.

In 1997 the choir completed a very successful tour of Alberta Canada . The following Year celebrated their 50th anniversary with a visit from Liedertafel alt Wiesloch Choir from Germany and a memorable Massed Male Voice Concert at Pontypool Leisure Centre.

The Gleemen have close ties with many choirs and have been involved in major concerts all over the UK including The Royal Albert Hall and in June 2000 the Millennium Festival Concert at the International Arena Cardiff.

Summer 2001 saw the completion of a successful tour of Germany and Austria, and the choir still prides itself with its commitment to raise monies for charitable causes not least of which is their annual Remembrance Day Concert with guest Artistes from the world of Opera.

Gwent Singers

The Gwent Singers were formed in 1972 when Blaenavon born Derrick Watkins was asked to sing at a concert in Crickhowell with the late Sarah Churchill. Instead of singing himself, he got together a group of friends to form a choir to back her.
After that one performance the choir was disbanded, but some weeks later Derrick received a call from Sarah Churchill asking him to bring the choir to sing at the Royal Court Theatre in London's West End.
The venture was so succesful that Derrick decided to keep the singers together so one of the South Wales leading Mixed choirs "The Gwent Singers" was born.
Today the choir has some 70 - 80 singers and perform regularly throughout Wales and England mainly for charity.
The choir has made many successful tours of Germany and has a permanent freindship wlth the Mannerse-sangveriein Freudschaft from Deidelsheim.
It also has the distinction of opening the 500 year celebrations at "Penns Landing in Philladelphia USA" of the landing of Christopher Columbus ahead of 74 Other choirs taking part in the musical festival.
The choir rehearse at their headquarters "The Angel Hotel" Abergavenny on a Sunday evening at 7.30pm promt the choir is entirely self supporting, Derrick the "Founder and Musical Director" and all members of the choir would welcome new members warmly.

                                                              

Mynyddislwyn Male Choir

Mynyddislwyn Male Choir was formed in 1969, taking the name from what was then the local borough and basing its badge upon a drawing of the church at Mynyddislwyn.

The choir has travelled widely across the UK and Europe performing for many charitable causes and was once the main participant in the mighty Royal Albert Hall.   In 1991 they were the first Welsh choir to tour Czechoslavakia.

In 1992 the choir purchased the second oldest  Independant church in Wales , Penmain Chapel , for use as their practice rooms, the chapel was originally built in 1694 but was replaced in 1829 .  Substantial renovations  made the building suitable for concert performances as well as rehearsals.

Newport Male Choir

Newport Male Choir was formed in 1943 to relieve the tensions of the time, It has progressed to an

International Choir doing several tours of Germany; France; Holland; Denmark; Eire and now Canada.  It has the distinction of being the first British Choir to sing at the British Embassy In Paris. It is not a competition Choir just one that loves to sing and pass on it’s love of singing to the people.

 It has just completed successful tours of Scotland and Eire Where their concerts were received with rapturous applause and have made many new friends hence their motto “Making Music Making Friends”

It gives its services free to many charities all over the UK

 The Choir celebrated it’s Golden Anniversary in 1993 in a combined Concert With Tredegar Town Band who were also celebrating their success in the UK National Championships, and the Highlight of 2001 was their very successful tour of Toronto.

Pontnewydd Male Choir

Pontnewydd Male Choir was formed in 1904, and dispite two World Wars has continued to perform concerts all over the UK raising monies for various charities.

The Choir has also enjoyed several successful Concert tours abroad, visiting France; Germany and Canada. In 2001 they returned from a successful visit to Bruchsal  the Twin Town of Cwmbran where they performed joint concerts with two German Male choirs.  In 2002 the choir toured Spain. In 2004 their Centenary Year They will welcome back to Cwmbran For a Joint Celebration Concert MGV Harmonie Male Choir from Bruchsal.

Rhymney  Silurian Male Choir

The Rhymney Silurian Male Choir was formed in 1951 and swiftly established a reputation for quality of its performance and variety of its repertoire.

The desire to embrace musical innovation has been its trademark throughout its history, there have been three main areas of development for the choir, competition;  concert and international friendship and exchanges. On the competition stage it has won no fewer than four National Eisteddfod championships Cheltenham Choral Gold cup to name but a few.  On the Concert front  It has been invited ti sing at a Royal Gala concert in Windsor Theatre  and Eton College under the chairmanship of a certain Terry Wogan . It’s topical football record made to aid the Mexican Earth Quake disaster in 1980’s was a crowning achievement and all profits donated to the Orphanage fund and the Placido Domingo Fund.

Over its 53 year history the choir has not rested on it’s laurels and will continue to make music an outstanding success and a pleasure to all who listen to it. 

Tredegar Orpheus Male  Choir

The Orpheus was founded in 1909 under the baton of Mr John Davy Evans.  During the following years, the choir competed in 150 Eisteddfodau, winning 136 first prizes. The major prize that eluded the choir was the National Eisteddfod.

From 1964 to 1983 the Musical Director was Ieuan Davies MBE, and in 1974 the choir acquired it’s present practice room , known as The Tredegar Orpheus Music Centre.   During the seventies the choir gained several first prizes at Eisteddfodau.

1983 saw the appointment of Mr Geraint Davies as MD and under his leadership the choir appeared in two finals of The Choir of The Year at St Davids Hall Cardiff and the final of the B&I competition at Brangwyn Hall Swansea.

1993 Saw the appointment of Mr Ian Waite as MD and the Orpheus ventured into new territories and presented two concerts entitled ‘Songs from the Shows’.

To celebrate the Millennium the choir toured Canada and they now have their sights set on a landmark in their history ‘One Hundred Years’ of music making.