Treharris and District Male voice choir
At the start of the 1960’s, the men of Treharris were keen to form a male voice choir. The town was steeped in musical history and there was a definite need to continue the tradition.
During October 1961, a meeting was arranged to discuss the matter. An excellent attendance at the meeting convinced everyone, that a choir was wanted and it was decided to start organising things right away.
It was decided that regular practice sessions would be required and that they should take place at the Bethel vestry in John Street. Two major appointments were made; Ted Hilbourne became the first musical director and the choir accompanist was to be David Rees.
Even though many men worked shifts at the colliery, the attendance at the practice sessions was very good. As many as seventy or more would turn up on occasions and the practice paid off, by March 1962, the choir was ready for its first public performance.
There must have been plenty of nerves amongst the choristers as the big day approached, every ticket was sold and the capacity audience at the Brynhyfryd chapel in Thomas Street were looking forward to the concert. The choir sang their hearts out and were a great success, it was the start of something special in Treharris that still thrives to this day.
1n 1962, Treharris were the only male voice choir in the borough and were in great demand. They held a spring concert at the Palace cinema in Treharris that sold out three weeks in advance, it was a celebrity concert and the choir were joined by the Tenor Kenneth Bowen and Soprano Anita Sergeant.
In 1965, the choir finally left Wales to sing at Weston super mare, once again it was successful and many more trips to England would follow.
The choir appeared on Television on several occasions in a programme called the “master singers”, it was a tribute film, based on the tragedy mining disaster in Senghenydd in the 19th century. Aber valley male voice choir accompanied Treharris in the making of the film; it won a major award in an International film festival.
The choir even produced a record
During 1966, the choir sung with Stuart Burrows and Elizabeth Rust, two stars of the time; both singers also volunteered to help the choir raise monies for the tragic Aberfan disaster that devastated the south Wales valleys.
The choir has performed in many venues throughout the United Kingdom, but for their first appearance at the Albert Hal, they held rehearsals for twelve months. 10,000 people attended the concert by combined choirs, 1,000 male voices; it truly was a fantastic concert.
Some of the accompanists who have served the choir so well over the years, following the excellent David Rees include Miss Mary L Davies, W Lloyd, J Ward, Judith Smallwood, Elaine Hadley and Martin Edwards.
The choir has made many friends over the years and they have lasted to this day. Cornwall and Bolton have special bonds with the choir and of course Watford, where the Leggets School association formed a fan club, which used to travel to the Albert hall to support the Treharris and district male voice choir.
The choir continued through the seventies to entertain and once again appeared on Television, this time in a television re make of the great film “Off to Philadelphia in the morning” They also appeared at a benefit concert at the Rainbow theatre in London for the old boxer Joe Erskine.
Above we see a German clipping of the Choirs 1982 German trip and a partly translated transcript of what the article said in English
The first over seas concert took place in 1982, when the choir travelled to Saarbrucken, the choir had a wonderful welcome. That tour was regarded as one of the highlights of the choirs’ history and once again many friends were made. They returned to do concerts at Southan, Bristol, and Bath; it really was a busy time for the choir. The significant concert took place during June. It was the 21st anniversary concert, when Ted Hilbourne conducted the choir for the last time. It was another great success and a fitting way to thank Ted for all his hard work for the choir.
Gwilym Morris became musical director, and the choir continued to be a great success. A concert was held for 300 people at the Empress ballroom in Abercynon. The concert was part of the events that the choir had organised for the visit of the St Josef Stal choir from Germany; it was a very memorable trip and another great success.
Gwilym had to resign through personal reasons and the choir were grateful once again to Ted Hilbourne who came out of retirement. Due to illness Ann M Vines took over as the accompanist for a few concerts, before Elaine and Rhian Hadley returned for a few concerts at Nelson and Bristol and a fantastic massed male voice choir concert at St David’s hall.
Brian McGrath became the new musical director a, he had a military band experience from his time at Sandhurst, the choir was delighted to have his services.
There were less choristers attending at the end of the eighties but the choir still performed regular concerts. The choir also travelled to the USA, Germany, France and Ireland and by 1997 the musical director was Llinos Evans and the accompanist was Anna Smith of Treharris.
Another Newspaper clip, this time from 1985
I hope the names and facts above are accurate, please advise me if they are wrong…I want to research the choirs progress from 1997 to the present day and I will update this article once I have done that.
Mr William Phillips, a former member of the choir , sent me the following programme from a concert performed in Treharris during 1982.
21st Century going strong
Some of the Choir members performing
2013-2026 a summarised version of the many activities conducted by the choir
Treharris Male Voice Choir, 2013–2026
Treharris Male Voice Choir remained a highly active community choir throughout this period. Although its origins lie in Deep Navigation Colliery, by 2026 the choir comprised around thirty amateur singers from Treharris, Nelson, Bedlinog, Trelewis, Edwardsville, Quakers Yard, and communities farther afield. No serving miners are now listed among the members, although several have worked in the coal industry.
The choir is led by Musical Director Llinos Davies BEM, who has completed approximately 30 years in the role, with Anna Bowden serving for more than 20 years as accompanist. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings at Salem Chapel in Nelson.
Main events and developments
Renewal and recognition, 2013–2016
2013 appears to have been a period of recruitment and renewed membership. Several present or recent choristers—including Chris Grant, David Rees and Rob Rees—are recorded as joining or rejoining around this time. Chris Grant recalled seeing a recruitment notice near Abercynon, attending a rehearsal at Bedlinog and performing in his first concert six months later. The choir also appeared at the 2013 Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival in Cardiff and was selected as one of the subjects representing Treharris’s heritage in the 2013 Treharris Square public-art project, alongside Deep Navigation Colliery and local community organisations.
2014 included one of the choir members’ most frequently remembered appearances: singing in Glasgow as part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations, reportedly before several thousand people.
2015 brought an important European visit, when Treharris Male Voice Choir took part in the Prague Advent Choral Meeting in December and performed alongside choirs from several countries.
2017 combined overseas travel with local charitable work. The choir visited Lake Garda and performed with Dare to Sing at a fundraising concert in St Margaret’s Church, Aberaman. Contemporary reports also mentioned plans for a future joint tour of Canada, although no firm evidence has been found to confirm that the proposed tour took place.
2018 is less well documented publicly, but membership records show that new singers continued to join, including Wayne Pullman and Phil Lewis. The available evidence suggests that the choir remained active locally while preparing for later overseas work.
2019 produced one of the great highlights of the choir’s modern history: singing inside the Pantheon in Rome. Members describe the experience as emotional and memorable. The choir’s recent international activity during this period also included Prague and Lake Garda.
Recognition, interruption and rebuilding, 2020–2023
2020 began with national recognition for Llinos Davies, who received the British Empire Medal in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to music following a nomination by Treharris Male Voice Choir. The pandemic then halted normal rehearsals, concerts and the choir’s planned 60th-anniversary celebrations.
2021–22 became a period of recovery and rebuilding. The choir’s website listed six new members during 2021, an encouraging sign after the Covid shutdown. The delayed 60th-anniversary dinner was subsequently held, with members receiving commemorative anniversary ties.
Heritage, charity and a broadening repertoire, 2024–2025
The choir participated in an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1984–85 miners’ strike, an especially fitting engagement given its Deep Navigation origins. It also welcomed Solent Male Voice Choir to South Wales for a joint concert in October. One annual concert raised funds for Treharris Boys and Girls Club, while several new singers joined during the year.
2025 was particularly productive. The choir sang for residents of Ty Gwynno Care Home and held a St David’s Day concert with Cefn Hengoed Ladies Choir and Edwardsville Primary School choir.
The annual showcase on 27 September featured baritone Josef Gray and was issued online as a 22-track live recording. The programme shows the breadth of the modern repertoire, placing Welsh pieces such as I Bob Un Sy’n Ffyddlon, Anfonaf Angel, Yma o Hyd and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau alongside The Impossible Dream, Working Man, The Wellerman, 500 Miles and songs from musical theatre.
The choir also travelled to Hampshire in November 2025 for a return joint concert with Solent Male Voice Choir, featuring individual and combined items.
Position in 2026
As of July 2026, the choir remained fully active. Its announced autumn programme included:
A wedding engagement on 19 September
The annual concert on 26 September
An Aberfan 60th-anniversary concert on 17 October with Ynys Owen and Dowlais male voice choirs
The Mayor’s Charity Concert in Carmarthen on 24 October
The choir therefore appears to have successfully survived both the pandemic and the wider difficulties facing traditional male choirs. It continues to combine four important roles: preserving the Welsh male-voice tradition; representing the former mining communities of the lower Taff Bargoed Valley; supporting charitable causes; and providing friendship and wellbeing for its members. Its repertoire now blends traditional hymns and Welsh standards with popular songs, film music, and musical-theatre arrangements. The choir is always actively recruiting new members and all are welcomed.