Côr Meibion Pontypridd

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Côr Meibion Pontypridd, the Pontypridd Male Voice Choir, is a Welsh choir from the Pontypridd area in Wales. Formed in 1949, it is based in Pwllgwaun and sings at concerts in Pontypridd and abroad, visiting countries like Poland, Ireland, the United States and Germany. The choir has a long friendship with Liederkranz Oberensingen from Nürtingen, near Pontypridd’s twin town, and has performed at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and in HTV’s Male Choral Competition. It is a member of the National Association of Choirs, the Welsh Association of Male Choirs and the Welsh Amateur Music Federation.

The choir began after a meeting at the town’s YMCA on 19 November 1949, originally called The Pontypridd Educational Settlement Male Choir. Gwilym T Jones was its first conductor, and the first concert was in June 1950. They soon entered competitions and won prizes at Llanharan and Glynneath. They also took part in local celebrations, such as the centenary of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and the bicentenary of Pontypridd Old Bridge. Notable guests included Stuart Burrows, with Harry Secombe and Geraint Evans appearing with the choir in 1959.

In 1956 they made their first BBC recording. The group’s name changed over time: Pontypridd and District YMCA Male Voice Choir, then Pontypridd Male Choir, and after 1964 it became Côr Meibion Pontypridd. William J Evans led the choir from 1957, followed by Joyce Durston (1964) and Dorothy Ingram (1964 onward) as conductor and accompanist. Under Durston, they won the Cardigan semi-national eisteddfod in 1964 and began foreign tours, starting with Germany in 1965. They performed in Nürtingen with Liederkranz Oberensingen, and the friendship continued with reciprocal visits.

The choir has numerous achievements: second place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1966, a 1,000-voice concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1972, and winning HTV’s Male Choral Competition in 1973, making them the first Welsh choir to win that TV contest. In 1974 they won the National Eisteddfod’s competition for male choirs with 40–70 voices led by a woman conductor, a first in the event’s history. They hosted a Polish choir in 1975 and visited Poland in 1976.

Dorothy Davies Ingram later became conductor, and in 1989 she became deputy conductor and accompanist while Jonathan Gulliford took the role of director of music. 1989 marked the choir’s 40th anniversary, celebrated with a gala concert with Liederkranz Oberensingen. A John Tree Award scheme began in 1991 to link local schools with the choir. The choir has continued to tour, including a US visit in 1999 for the 50th anniversary and a 2005 visit by Liederkranz Oberensingen to celebrate 40 years of friendship. In 2008 they staged concerts in Cyprus and planned another visit to Nürtingen.