1900 - 1909 History of the Choir

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.