CÔR MEIBION DE CYMRU and friends welcome you to our web site.

The South Wales Male Choir was founded in 1982 and is one of the largest ensembles of its kind in South Wales.  The choir is able to draw on a complement of up to 140 voices and is currently increasing in number.

The story began in 1982 following an attempt by Welsh ex-patriots living in America to take the renowned Royal Albert Hall 1000 voices to the United States that year.  Whilst 1000 voices did not make it across the Atlantic, the idea did inspire Welsh singers who had performed in London to form Côr Meibion De Cymru.  This resulted in a choir in excess of 500 voices taking to the stage in the USA, New York and Pittsburgh being particularly memorable.

It was envisaged that the trip would be a “one off”, but on their return a motion was passed for the choir to continue.  The next 2½ decades was to see the choir winning an International reputation for the high quality of its work.

From its early days the choir received the support of HRH the Prince of Wales as its patron.  The first President  was Viscount Ton-y-Pandy, later to be succeeded by Lord Gordon Parry of Neyland.  The current President is Wyn Calvin MBE.

The first Conductor was Alun John with Bryan Davies as Accompanist.  Other distinguished conductors followed including John Samuel, Dr. Haydn James and D.Eifion Thomas.  

The choir members come from all parts of South Wales, with members traveling from Bedford, Bristol, Oxford, Southampton and Hereford.  They meet weekly in 5 groups covering the area, each with its own conductor and accompanist working toward forthcoming concerts.  Every three weeks the whole choir meets for four hours practice, consolidating the music learned in the groups.

The choir is a charity and is run on a non profit bases, mastering dozens of scores old and new, traditional and classical, in English and Welsh plus other languages when touring.

They have toured Canada and USA on a number of occasions, Australia, Belgium, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Eastern Europe and Spain.  The motto is “Have choir – will travel”!  They have given concerts with many distinguished concert artistes singing in prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall London, St David's Hall Cardiff and Cathedrals at home and abroad.

With the generous backing of Texaco they have organised the Texaco Young Musicians of Wales competition every two years. Thereby helping the talented youth of Wales to gain stage and television experience through what has become one of Wales’ most prestigious competitions.  An excellent partnership with Texaco ensures that the “Sounds of Wales” is heard at home and abroad.