The Formation
It all happened as a result of a visit of the Porth and Cymmer Male Voice Choir.
They visited Penarth in 1896 and gave a few choruses on the Esplanade.
They Made a collection to help their distressed fellow workers in the collieries who were at that time, suffering a severe depression in the coal industry.
A few local gentlemen who were interested in singing arranged for the Porth and Cymmer Male Voice choir to give a concert in the Old Andrews Hall in Albert Road, Penarth.
The concert proved a great success. In Andrew’s Coffee Tavern one evening, five men ( J.Angove, D. Humphreys, W. Jenkins , T.H. Jones , C.T. Kirby ) were discussing the concert, when one of them said, “couldn’t we form a male voice choir in Penarth? ”
They discussed the idea and invited all men who were interested in singing to a meeting and on
The 7th September 1896, the Penarth Male Voice Choir was formed.
Mr. David Humphreys was invited to conduct the newly-formed choir and on Wednesday the 9th December 1896, the first concert was given in Andrew’s Hall,
opening with “ Soldiers Chorus ”. The Artists were Miss Nellie Griffiths, Mr W.E.Carston, Mr.W.Jones, Mr.Gwilym Thomas, and Mr. W. Holmes’ Band.
Messrs John and W.F.Price were the first accompanists.
The president, being Mr David Cornwell and the Vice President included Dr. Joseph Parry.
(Picture of Dr. Joseph Parry)
The Early Years...
In July 1897, the Choir performed at Crystal Palace as part of Dr. Joseph Parry’s Combined Choirs and in June 1898 The Choir bought a Piano.
In 1899 First prizes were won at the Penarth Eisteddfod and the Barry Crown Eisteddfod.
The Choir went on tours to Ireland in 1900 and Southampton in 1908 and enjoyed a continued success at various other Eisteddfodau.
The first 50 Years…
Conductors and accompanists have changed over the Years but of particular note was the Accompanist
Mr Harry Farr who was appointed just after the 1914 – 1918 war and served the choir for 22 years only
being absent on one occasion through illness.
In August 1920 and 1921 the Choir went to Weston and Burnham and on October 29th 1921 Celebrated 25 years with a Semi– Jubilee Concert at the Esplanade Hotel, Penarth .
During The 1939 - 1945 War a depleted Choir were responsible for Between 80 to 100 concerts for the troops .
In 1945 The Penarth Male Voice choir raised £100 for Cardiff Royal Infirmary through a concert at Tabernacle Baptist Church .
On September 25th 1946 The Choir Celebrated 50 years with a Jubilee Concert at Tabernacle Church under the Baton of Walter Lock and including a boy soprano called Stuart Burrows .
 
(A picture of Stuart Burrows and the jubilee concert guide.)
The Choirs selection included old Favourites such as “Soldier’s Chorus”, “ Going Home“ and “ Laudamus”.
The 50’s to the 70’s
The Musical foundation of the original Choir members was and still is being handed down From Generation to Generation we are proud to have the Nephew of Mr John Angove which by coincidence his name is Mr John Angove whom is at the time of compiling this history of the choir is the chairman of the Penarth Male Voice Choir.
In 1957, The Choir played host to a German Choir, Bad Soden Am Taumus, With Concerts at the Paget Rooms, Porthcawl Grand Pavilion and The Temple of peace in Cardiff.
In 1958 Penarth Male Voice Choir paid a return visit to Germany with concerts in HochHeim,Kurhaus and a reception with the Burgomaster of Frankfurt .
The Choir has Continued to perform for Charity over the years and in 1979 had the honour to sing with The band of the Welsh Guards at St . Cyres School, Penarth.
The 80’s to the Centenary and the Millenium
In 1982 the Choir was chosen to singwith the combined Welsh Choirs at the second Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s Charity Concert,
In aid of handicapped Children and following that performance were requested to make a television
appearance on The Windsor Davies Show. In the Spring of 1990 The Choirs ranks were enhanced by the Vale of Glamorgan choristers joining them.
In 1991 the Choir appeared as extra’s in the film “Rebecca’s Daughters”, starring Peter O Toole and Joely Richardson and also provided The background Music. Also in 1991 The Choir renewed its German
connection with a Tour of Cologne, Koblenz, Bad Neunahr and Rudesheim.
1992 proved to be one of the Busiest in the choir’s history. In March the choir appeared as part of the massed choir event at the Royal Albert Hall London and in May at the World Choir concert at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, with Tom Jones, Dame Gwyneth Jones and Dennis O’Neil.
Other Concert venues included St. David’s Hall, Cardiff Swalcliffe, Oxfordshire, Presteigne, Mid Wales and Paddington Station, London Plus Hosting a Choir from The Ukraine .
1993 had been no Less Busy with the second World Choir concert with Dame Shirley Bassey, The Swalec Rugby Union Cup Final and the Interceltic Festival In Lorient, Brittany.
In 1993 The Choir again appeared at St.Davids Hall and also renewed its Participation in Eisteddfodau at Porthcawl.
In 1994 Went to Atlanta Georgia USA with The world Choir and also returned to The Royal Albert Hall in the spring of 1995.
In addition the Choir continued to perform locally on a regular basis for various charities and the calendar indeed looked very healthy.
1996 Saw The Choir celebrate its Centenary . Major events were planned and stars were planned throughout the year and the choir was hoping to attract major sponsors to make the Year a Truly memorable year in the annals of Welsh Male Voice singing as The Penarth Male Voice Choir Prepaired for the Next 100 Years.
2006/2007
We jump forward to the present. As 2006 Drew to a close it was a very busy year for the choir
in May the choir hosted a joint evening of musical entertainment given by the North West University Choir from Pennsylvania and The Penarth Male Voice Choir .
We have been involved on several functions given by The Mayor Of Penarth at the Cummings and at the
Paget Rooms.
We also continue to give concerts for the senior citizens groups in the Vale and surrounding areas and have done quite a few weddings for various young couples as well as one or two funerals.
To finish the year off we were invited by various supermarket chains to sing at their individual venues .
2007 is beginning to look like a promising year..
|
|
