Ynysybwl Male Voice Choir
The first 40 Years...

The Ynysybwl Male Voice choir was formed back in 1963 with just 8 members under the leadership of David Arnold. Within a year the membership had grown to 50 members, all enthusiastic and interested.

Their first performances were in local chapels, hospitals and residential homes, helping to raise money for various charities. The Choir's reputation soon became known, and through various contacts, soon the choir was travelling north to Scotland and south to Cornwall. Before very long, they were travelling abroad to Malta at the invitation of Lions International, and to Hungary, where they competed in the Bela Bartok Music Festival.

Over the years, the choir has formed strong relationships with other choirs throughout the British Isles, and many exchange concert visits have kept these bonds of friendship strong.

The Cornish connection is still open, as is the link they have with Pye Hill in Nottingham, and there are many more. The Choir, as every other organisation, has had its high and low points over the years, and with the lack of young men in the village and surrounding areas joining the choir to boost the numbers, the choir has reduced in size. This does not mean that the quality of music has deteriorated. Indeed, the standard of singing is as good as it ever has been, if not better.

It has seen changes in the musical team over the years for one reason and another, and of course, people do not live for ever, and the choir has sadly said farewell to some excellent choristers. This is not to say that the enthusiasm and motivation is reduced. Far from it!

The Choir is now enjoying an injection of new life with new members having joined us in the last year or so.

They have started to travel abroad again, and they sang in some beautiful venues in and around Rudesheim, on the Rhine back in 2000.

The Choir is also enjoying new life through the introduction of more up to date music in addition to the traditional Male Voice repertoire.

Best of all, this year, the Choir is celebrating its 40th birthday, and plans have been made for a very lively and exciting year.

These plans are going to include several musical celebrations, but also, there are going to be some other celebrations just for the fun of it.

The Boys are a multi-talented and friendly bunch who are just as relaxed providing "after-concert concerts" as they are singing on the concert platform.

Happy Birthday to you all, and here's to the next 40 years !