About the choir
Founded in 1904 the choir has been in continuous existence and now ranks as one of the oldest in Wales. Originally the 'Upper Cwmbran United Male Voice Party' the choir's name changed to 'Pontnewydd United Male Voice Party' and, in 1972, became the Pontnewydd Male Choir.
Pontnewydd is an area of Cwmbran, close to Newport, and is located in the County Borough of Torfaen in South-East Wales. This beautiful county gives easy access to South, Mid and West Wales as well as to South-West England via the Severn Bridge(s).
The choir has always inspired tremendous loyalties as evidenced by the relatively few Presidents and Conductors there have been since 1904. The choir's current membership of 66 includes fourteen Life Members each of whom have in excess of 25 years membership of the choir.
Registered with the Charity Commissioners the choir has raised many thousands of pounds for charities and other worthy causes throughout Wales, England and Scotland. Since 1983 the choir has also toured the Netherlands, Germany, France, Canada and, most recently, Spain. Under current consideration is a tour to Italy during 2005.
The foreign visits have helped the choir forge links with a number of host choirs and some of these, like the M.G.V. Harmonie Buchenau from Germany, have become great friends. Originally the contact between this choir and Pontnewydd Male Choir came about as part of the twin town arrangements that had come into being between Cwmbran and Bruchsal. The choirs have visited each other on a number of occasions and the common love of music has greatly helped to break down barriers and fostered a desire to overcome language barriers to learn to know each other as friends.
Throughout its history the choir have been privileged to have been invited to sing at the whole gamut of venues which have ranged from pensioners halls to parish churches and from famous concert halls to the most beautiful cathedrals both in the U.K. and abroad.
Starting this August 2004 a number of special events have been organised to celebrate the choir's centenary. Included in these celebrations will be a social evening when the 'Bush Public House' will be visited. It was at 'the Bush' that the choir was formed on August 28th 1904. The choir will also take a nostalgic walk to the 'Bethel Chapel' site, the venue of the choir's first practices. An open day will be arranged at the Mount Pleasant Hall, Pontnewydd when choir memorabilia will be on display.
Concerts will take place with friends from M.G.V. Harmonie Buchenau at the Congress Theatre, Cwmbran and a special concert will feature the talents of all the Pontnewydd Choirs - Pontnewydd Primary School, Pontnewydd Ladies Choir and Pontnewydd Senior Chorale as well as Pontnewydd Male Choir.
The choir is also looking forward to celebrating its centenary with the other male choirs from the County Borough of Torfaen. This concert will feature the talents of Cwmbran Male Choir, the Blaenafon Male Choir, Garndiffaith Male Choir, the Gwent Police Choir, the Mellotones and Pontypool Male Choir.
The choir's actual 100th Annual Concert will take place on April 16th 2005 and will feature the world famous bass baritone Sir Willard White.
In addition to the centenary concerts the choir will be recording a new CD during September 2004 and will be singing in concert for several charities during the year. (For further information on all the concerts please refer to the Concert Diary.)
Even during this centenary year the choir will be happy to welcome new choristers to the Tuesday and Friday evening practices. (Please contact the choir's General Secretary.)
Pontnewydd Male Choir is a member of the Welsh Association of Male Choirs and the National Association of Choirs. The choir receives financial assistance from the Welsh Amateur Music Federation and is registered with the Charity Commissioners.
1900-1909
On the 28th August 1904 a group of men called a meeting in Upper Cwmbran, a small mining village in south east Wales, anxious to form a male choir. This meeting was held in the Bush Inn public house and the choir was to be known as the Upper Cwmbran United Male Voice Party. It was to be the beginning of a choir that would span a remarkable 100 years.
The choir initially met to practice at the nearby Bethel Congregational Church, but soon moved to larger premises: firstly to the local infants school and then to the senior school. Practice was held on a Friday evening (it still is) and the choristers' enthusiasm and strong interest in music quickly set the pattern that was to last for so long. Mr. J. Williams was appointed as the conductor and Mr. F. Hutchings as the accompanist.
It is believed, though not recorded, that the first public appearance of the choir took place on a Good Friday evening in 1905 at the Council Schools in Upper Cwmbran.
In August 1906 the choir took part in its first eisteddfod, held in Pontyclun, Glamorganshire. The test piece was "Martyrs of the Arena", which was sung with much enthusiasm and hope. No prizes were won, but much was learned - in particular the old adage "practice makes perfect", as true today as it ever was.
1910 - 1919
The choir grew steadily in number and confidence until in 1914 war was proclaimed. The choir struggled with a dwindling membership throughout the war, but the few experienced choristers remaining, recruited new members from men already singing in their church choirs and by 1917, the choir had regained much of its strength.
By 1918, the last year of the Great War, interest in the choir grew and as most members lived in the Pontnewydd area at that time, it was decided to hold practice in the Mission Hall, Pontnewydd. The original link with Upper Cwmbran was therefore severed. The choir continued to flourish and in 1924 it was invited to sing at the Royal Albert Hall in London - the first of many visits by the choir over the next 80 years.
1920 - 1929
Another difficult time came in 1926 when a six-month stoppage of work in the local collieries brought much hardship to the area. This was compounded in 1927 when the Cwmbran Colliery closed and some choristers left the area to look for work. It is recorded that membership of the choir was reduced by nearly 50 per cent. Gradually, however, things improved and the choir regained its strength once again.
1930 - 1939
In 1930 the choir changed its name from the Upper Cwmbran United Male Voice Party to the Pontnewydd United Male Voice Party and continued to flourish, electing its first President, Mr. W.T. Horton in 1937. However, in 1939, the threat of war loomed once again and with many young choristers joining the Forces and others being unable to attend practice because of heavy work commitments, the committee decided to devote the choir's energy and talents to fund raising for various charities.
1940 - 1949
With the dark days of the war finally over, the choir gradually regained its strength in membership. The first post-war Caerleon Eisteddfod gave the revived choir an opportunity to show its worth and indeed was a winning choir with the piece "Jesu, Lover of My Soul" (also successful at the event, performing in the "boys solo under 16", was a young lad by the name of Walford Hutchings!)
1950 - 1959
Sadly, in 1952 the choir's founder-conductor, Mr. John Williams died. An emergency meeting attended by sixteen members discussed the question of whether to carry on; thankfully it was decided to keep going and advertise for a conductor. There followed the appointments of two conductors between 1953 and1958 until Mr. Fred Williams, the founder-conductor's son, took over the baton.
1970 - 1979
The present Musical Director, Mr. Walford Hutchings, took over in 1970 having been the choir's accompanist for three years.
In 1972 the name of the choir was changed again to the current Pontnewydd Male Choir which was sadly followed by the death of the choir's President, Mr W. J. Horton after 35 years in office. The choir was fortunate however, when Mr. John Evans, a local solicitor, was appointed President in 1973. His presidency was to oversee a time of strong revival in the choir's membership and activity.
1980 - 1989
Membership grew in number to 85 during the early 1980's and the choir ventured to the Netherlands in 1983 on its first overseas tour. There followed in 1988, the first of several exchange visits with the MGV Harmonie Buchenau, a male choir from Germany; a partnership continuing to this day. Within the last decade, tours to France, Canada and Spain have taken the sound of Welsh male voice singing to parts of the world that founding choristers, 100 years ago, would only have dreamed about.
1990 - 1999
1998 was to bring sadness again to the choir when its President, Mr. John Evans, passed away after 25 years of faithful service. In 2002 the choir appointed one of its fellow members, Mr. Charles Lippiatt, as President. Charlie, as he was affectionately known, was a remarkable chorister who served the choir for 66 years, joining in 1937 and attending practice regularly until his death in 2003. Imagine the changes he had witnessed in the choir's fortunes over so many years.
2000 - Present
The beginning of the 21st century sees the choir in confident mood. Concerts are frequent and venues varied and the musical team now consists of a Musical Director, Deputy Conductor and two Accompanists. Mr. Brian Davies, formerly a Vice-President and a staunch supporter for more than 30 years was elected President in 2004. The cost of maintaining the choir is ever increasing, but through the efforts and support of a hardworking and loyal Ladies Committee, this burden is greatly eased. Moral as well as financial support is very much in evidence due to dedicated Vice Presidents and choir supporters, proving that the success of a choir is dependent on so many people.
During recent years the choir has been fortunate in attracting new members (membership presently stands at 65) and while it has been said that traditional Welsh male voice singing is somewhat in decline, Pontnewydd Male Choir has proved the exception. Continuing audience support, a full engagements list and healthy sales of the latest CD recording demonstrate that the experience and pedigree of the last 100 years are preparing the choir well to continue towards the next 100 years.
