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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh choir formed just 16 months ago gets immense booking and some still think it's a wind up
Welsh choir formed just 16 months ago gets immense booking and some still think it's a wind up People have been telephoning to check, convinced it can't be true The Principality Stadium, Cardiff, ahead of the Wales vs New Zealand autumn international in 2022 (Image: Mark Lewis/Huw Evans Agency ) A male voice choir which didn't exist 16 months ago will be performing at the Principality Stadium ahead of the Wales vs New Zealand autumn international, and some pre-match nerves are starting to kick in. Matthew Bailey, of Cor Meibion Clydach, said they would be one of three choirs singing together, including performing the teams' respective national anthems ahead of kick-off. Cllr Bailey, a Swansea councillor who represents Clydach, said two choir members phoned him to ask if it was a wind-up. "They said, 'All joking aside, are we actually going to sing at the Principality Stadium?'" he said. Cor Meibion Clydach has performed Christmas and VE Day concerts in front of around 400 people - somewhat fewer than the Principality's 74,000 capacity. "It is a great honour," said Cllr Bailey. "Its Wales-New Zealand - a massive game." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here He reckoned the choirs would sing around eight songs and then the national anthems. "There is an element of nervousness," said Cllr Bailey. "You're probably never going to get this opportunity again. You've got to perform. It would help if we could have a couple of drinks beforehand!" Cllr Bailey, who last year resurrected what had been a successful male voice choir in Clydach in the past, said he'd been in touch with an official who arranged choirs at the stadium and that he received an email last Thursday saying Cor Meibion Clydach was one of the three selected. He said Cor Meibion Clydach member Wayne Griffiths had sung at the stadium previously with his other choir, Morriston Orpheus, Swansea, and described the experience as "completely emotional". Article continues below Cor Meibion Clydach, the male voice choir which is flourishing in Clydach, at a Christmas concert at Capel y Nant (Image: Copyright Unknown ) Cor Meibion Clydach chorister Anthony Brunton said the November 22 date in Cardiff was a dream come true. "I am really looking forward to it, and everybody is in the choir is as well," he said. "Standing on the pitch in front of 70,000 people, singing - I will be an emotional wreck." Mr Brunton, 58, who used to play second row for Vardre RFC, Clydach, said the All Blacks were the biggest test for any Wales rugby team. They haven't lost to Wales since 1953. Cor Meibion Clydach has been guided and improved by musical director Gareth Sims and his accompanist wife, Julie. Cllr Bailey said it was up to 38 members and could accommodate more. The choir practises on Thursday evenings at Vardre RFC. Sunday sessions are also taking place on the back of the Principality Stadium news. Article continues below One of its members is David Waghorn, president of Vardre RFC. Speaking in April he said he used to listen to and help the previous male voice choir before it disbanded many years ago and that he'd regretted not joining it. "Everyone tells me singing is good for the soul and well-being," said Mr Waghorn . "I thought, 'I'm not going to miss out this time.' It's one of the best things I have done."
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
A male voice choir has been resurrected in the Swansea Valley and it's changing lives
A male voice choir has been resurrected in the Swansea Valley and it's changing lives 'In these days of doom and gloom, it has brought a bit of joy to the community,' said one member of Cor Meibion Clydach A Male Voice Choir Has Been Resurrected In The Swansea Valley And It's Doing Great Things 16x9 For Martin Berni, joining a male voice choir got him out of the house after the sudden death of his wife. For David Waghorn it was a chance to take part in an activity he'd often watched from the sidelines, while for Swansea councillor Matthew Bailey, it was about reviving a tradition in Clydach. Now, just over a year since the choir was set up, membership has doubled, new social bonds have been created, and money has been raised for good causes. And Cor Meibion Clydach can certainly hold a tune. Cllr Bailey, who represents Clydach, said: "All the guys there, hand on heart, say, 'I can't believe I haven't done it sooner.' We practice on a Thursday evening, and on Friday morning you want to go back again." He added: "The social part is just as important." Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Article continues below Cllr Bailey said there used to be a highly regarded male voice choir in Clydach in the 1990s which achieved National Eisteddfod success, but it disbanded. There was a reunion a couple of years ago, and that set in motion what is flourishing today. "I thought it would be good if we could try to re-establish a choir," said Cllr Bailey. The word spread, a 1980s keyboard with some missing keys was donated, and the new choir launched with 16 members in March last year at Vardre RFC - the home of the previous one. Cllr Bailey said membership had now reached 35, ranging from those in their mid-20s to 80s, and that younger members were welcome. "Bring a mate, grab a pint and come along and watch rehearsals," he said. "You can sit with us and not sing, or sing. If it's not for you it's not a problem." Cor Meibion Clydach at the Christmas concert in Capel y Nant (Image: courtesy of Cor Meibion Clydach ) Cor Meibion Clydach performed at a Christmas concert at the town's Capel y Nant, along with pupils from YGG Gellionnen. The choir are also singing at a VE Day remembrance event at St Mary's Church, Clydach, on May 11. Cllr Bailey paid tribute to musical director Gareth Sims and his accompanist wife, Julie, for their work. Choristers are top tenor, second tenor, baritone or bass, and one or two of them, said Cllr Bailey, stood out. "Eurof Humphreys does the solo parts - he's got a great voice," he said. Cllr Bailey, 40, who works for insurance company Admiral, said he'd always liked listening to male voice choirs. Being part of one, he said, had revealed how different sections of a choir knitted a song together into the melody that everyone recognised. He said as well as traditional choral music the choir had sung songs such as You'll Never Walk Alone, I Dreamed a Dream, and If, by the group Bread. They write out Welsh words phonetically for non-Welsh speakers in their midst, which he said worked well. Singer and councillor, Matthew Bailey (Image: Richard Youle ) David Waghorn, president of Vardre RFC, used to listen to and help the previous choir, whose members included his brother-in-law and friends of his. "I've never sung before, I'm 77 now, and I kind of always regretted I didn't join the Vardre male voice choir," he said. "Everyone tells me singing is good for the soul and wellbeing. I thought, 'I'm not going to miss out this time.' It's one of the best things I have done. We are serious but we have a laugh together." He added: "Our conductor Gareth Sims and his wife Julie have been fantastic. They've got the patience of Job!" Mr Waghorn, who is also chairman of the Capel y Nant working group, said of the Christmas concert: "It was full to the rafters. The cross-section of people there was tremendous." A £1,000 collection was raised on the night, some of which has gone to three good causes including mental health charity Mind. Martin Berni, meanwhile, said he was recovering from the unexpected death of his wife and decided to check out the choir. He said: "The way it's helped is, first of all it got me out of the house one evening a week, and then obviously you interacted with boys that you know from the village, and all of a sudden you're part of a group that's trying to achieve something, is growing, and the friendship and the bond the boys have got now has helped enormously." Josh Burtonshaw is Cor Meibion Clydach's youngest member. "I've always done a bit of singing - I thought I would get involved," he said. The 25-year-old, who runs The Overdraft cocktail bar on High Street, added: "All ages can do it, all ages are welcome." Cor Meibion Clydach has another ward councillor, Gordon Walker, in its ranks. Its president is former international rugby referee Derek Bevan. Gareth Crees, the managing director of engineering firm Kaymac Marine, is vice-president. Mr Waghorn said: "In these days of doom and gloom, it has brought a bit of joy to the community." Article continues below
