Côr Meibion Pontypridd

Côr Meibion Pontypridd
December 2009

Côr Meibion Pontypridd is a Welsh male voice choir from the Pontypridd area of the South Wales Valleys in the United Kingdom.

Background

Côr Meibion Pontypridd (Pontypridd Male Choir; the name means Choir of the Sons of Pontypridd) was formed in 1949 for traditional Welsh singing.

The choir performs frequently both in Pontypridd and overseas, and has visited Poland, Ireland, the USA and Germany. Links have been forged with Liederkranz Oberensingen, a German male choir from Pontypridd's twin town, Nürtingen.

The choir also performs regularly at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and takes part in the HTV male choral competition. The choir is currently broadening and improving its repertoire to provide a wide-ranging concert program.

The choir is a member of the National Association of Choirs, the Welsh Association of Male Choirs and the Welsh Amateur Music Federation, and is a past winner of the HTV Male Choral Competition and at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

History

The choir was formed on 29 November 1949 by a group of 19 choristers under the name of "The Pontypridd Educational Settlement Male Choir". Gwilym T Jones was appointed conductor and Miss Agnes Wilson accompanist. The first concert was performed in June 1950. The following year the choir started entering competitions, and were awarded first prize at the Llanharan "Semi National" Eisteddfod, and were again placed first two weeks later at Glynneath.

Llanharan "Semi National" Eisteddfod
Côr Meibion Pontypridd awarded First place

The choir were much involved in celebrations of the centenary of the composition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and the bicentenary of the Old Bridge, Pontypridd.

Stuart Burrows was the guest artiste at a concert in 1959, and in the same year Harry Secombe and Geraint Evans appeared together for the first time, with W.J. Evans (Geraint's father) conducting the choir.

Joyce Durston was appointed musical director in 1964 and Dorothy Ingram (née Davies) was appointed accompanist. The same year the choir visited Germany as guests of the Liederkranz Oberensingen and this visit turned out to be the start of an on-going friendship; the following year the Liederkranz made a return visit to Pontypridd.

In 1966 the choir came second in the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Newtown.

1970 was the 21st birthday of the choir and a celebration dinner was arranged with patrons Sir Geraint Evans and Stuart Burrows, together with president P. Raymond Jones and many vice presidents and civic dignitaries attending.

1973 saw the choir take part in the H.T.V. Male Choral Competition. Twelve choirs were in the opening knock-out round and the finalists were Cwmbach and Pontypridd. In the final in the H.T.V. Studios, Pontypridd emerged as clear winners.

In 1974 the choir won the National Eisteddfod of Wales for the first time.

In 1975 a Polish choir, "Zzk Henjau", visited Pontypridd. Pontypridd choir visited Poland in 1976 as guests of "Zzk Henjau".

In 1977 Dorothy Davies Ingram became musical director and Jonathan Gulliford joined as accompanist. The choir won the Knight of St. David Memorial Bowl at the Rhymney Valley Eisteddfod, and retained it the following year.

In 1989 Ingram became the first woman to conduct the 1,000 voices in the Royal Albert Hall and after 11 years as conductor to Côr Meibion Pontypridd, changed her role to become deputy conductor and accompanist, with Jonathan Gulliford taking up the position of director of music.

The John Tree Award scheme, made possible by the generosity of R.T.J. Tree, choir president, was launched in 1991. The objective of the scheme is to forge links between local schools and the choir. Annual prizes are awarded to outstanding musicians/singers at Pontypridd schools. Award winners take part in the choir's annual celebrity concert.

External links

• Côr Meibion Pontypridd: Official Côr Meibion Pontypridd web site
• Côr Meibion Pontypridd Twitter page (@PontypriddMVC): Côr Meibion Pontypridd Twitter Page!
• National Association of Choirs: National Association of Choirs web site
• The Welsh Association of Male Choirs
• The Welsh Amateur Music Federation
• malevoicechoir.net: malevoicechoir.net choir Profile
• Rhondda Cynon Taff: Rhondda Cynon Taf web site
• Liederkranz Oberensingen: Liederkranz Oberensingen web site
• Welsh National Anthem: Côr Meibion Pontypridd sings The Welsh National Anthem (Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau / Land of My Fathers)