Côr Meibion Pontypridd

The choir performs frequently both in Pontypridd and overseas, and has visited Poland, Ireland, the United States and Germany.

Côr Meibion Pontypridd was founded following a meeting of a small group of men at the Educational Settlement of the town's YMCA on 19 November 1949.

The following year the choir started entering competitions, and were awarded first prize at the Llanharan "Semi National" Eisteddfod, and were again placed first two weeks later at Glynneath.

The choir were involved in celebrations of the centenary of the composition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and the bicentenary of the Old Bridge, Pontypridd.

Stuart Burrows was the guest artiste at a concert in 1959, and in the same year Harry Secombe and Geraint Evans appeared together for the first time, with W.J.

The first competition the choir entered was a semi-national[clarification needed] eisteddfod held at Llanharan on 23 June 1951.

It featured in a programme about the centenary of the composition of the music for Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and the bicentenary of the building of the Old Bridge.

Under his guidance, Pontypridd and District YMCA Male Voice Choir's performances attracted large audiences.

However, by the time William J Evans retired as conductor in January 1964 the choir was known as Côr Meibion Pontypridd.

They went to Germany on their first foreign tour in September 1965 and gave a series of concerts in Nürtingen, the twin town of Pontypridd, as guests of the Liederkranz Oberensingen, a male voice choir.

In 1972, Côr Meibion Pontypridd was one of twelve choirs to perform at the 1,000 voices concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1974 they won the competition for male choirs between 40 and 70 voices at the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Carmarthen, their first victory in this event.

Joyce Durston resigned in November 1977, and Dorothy Davies Ingram (accompanyist since 1964) became musical director and Jonathan Gulliford succeeded her as accompanist.

She made her debut as the choir's musical director at the Festival of 1,000 Voices at the Afan Lido, Aberavon in December 1977.

The choir won the Knight of St. David Memorial Bowl at the Rhymney Valley Eisteddfod, and retained it the following year.

As part of the celebrations the choir appeared in a gala concert with Liederkranz Obersingen of Nürtingen in July at the Hawthorn Leisure Centre.

Also in 1989, Dorothy Davies-Ingram decided to change her role, and became both deputy conductor and accompanist, while Jonathan Gulliford became director of music.