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Côr Meibion Gwent History
Côr Meibion Gwent / Gwent Male Voice Choir
Côr Meibion Gwent was formed in 2001 by a small band of choristers representing Male Voice choirs from all areas of the old county of Gwent in South Wales.
Back in September 2000 taking a choir to Australia was the dream of our then Chairman Councillor Ivor Davies MBE. Vice President of Garndiffaith Gleemen. Ivor soon found support from his fellow choristers, but they realised that they would not have sufficient numbers for such a prestigious undertaking. They decided to test the waters and find out if other choristers around Gwent would be interested in joining them on their venture.
Although their own management team were in full support of the plans, the intrepid adventurers soon found that official backing from other choirs could not be taken for granted. It took several months and a few preparatory meetings before they were satisfied that their venture would have the vital support from members of other choirs.
Gradually more and more choristers became attracted to the tour and finally on “All Fools Day” 2001 the good men of Gwent assembled at Pontnewynydd Community Centre for their first Practice session.
Fifty eight choristers took part in the practice, and our musical team of Sean Hatton and Meurig Jones both from Caldicot MV Choir led the choir through some grand old favourites. There was a buzz of excitement throughout the practice hall with some impressive sounds, and everyone agreed that they had witnessed the birth of a marvellous new choir.
From this humble beginning the choir had now approximately eighty members and the musical team boasts the addition of Graham Keith Arnold known to the world as ‘Ozzie’Arnold of Blaenavon MV and Margaret Davies of Beaufort MV.
The Male Choirs that contributed members to the formation of Côr Meibion Gwent were:
Abertillery, Beaufort, Blaenavon, Caldicot, Cwm, Cwmbran, Garndiffaith Gleemen, Gwent Singers, Mynyddislwyn, Newport, Pontnewydd, Rhymney Salurians,Tredegar Orpheus.
After the very successful tour of Australia the choir was disbanded, but at the insistence of the choristers themselves the choir was reformed with a new musical team and new aims to continue as a permanent touring choir to spread the music of the "Welsh Male Voice" across the World. The choir still retains that magical sound it had at it’s beginnings with the new musical team of MD Craig James Cwm MV, Assistant MD Hazel Matthews Newport MV, Accompanists Barbara Davies Newport MV, and Margaret Davies Beaufort MV.
The Male Choirs that are still contributing are:- Beaufort, Cwm, Cwmbran, Garndiffaith Gleemen, Gwent Bach Society, Gwent Hospitals, Gwent Singers, Mynyddislwyn, Newport, Pontnewydd, Rhymney Silurians, Tredegar Orpheus.
The Choir are now in full rehearsals for their forthcoming tour of Western Canada in August 2006
