Pontarddulais Male Choir
| Pontarddulais Male Choir | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pontarddulais, Swansea, Wales |
| Genres | Choral |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Website | www.pontarddulaismalechoir.com/cymraeg/index.php |
The Pontarddulais Male Choir (Welsh: Côr Meibion Pontarddulais) is a Welsh male voice choir from Pontarddulais near Swansea, Wales. It is the most successful choir in Wales and is internationally renowned as it has appeared in many parts of Europe as well as Canada and the United States. It has achieved a record fifteen first place wins at the Royal National Eisteddfod, the latest of which was at Cardiff in 2008. The choir also won the Choir of the Festival award in 2004 and 2006.
In 2001 and 2004 the Pontarddulais Male Choir won the Best Male Choir award at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Other first places include 10 times at the Cardigan Eisteddfod, 5 times winners at the Miners Eisteddfod in Porthcawl and twice winners at the Pantyfedwen Eisteddfod in Pontrhydfendigaid.
The choir, conducted by Noel Davies performed vocals on the Pink Floyd track "When the Tigers Broke Free" which features on the album Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd. They also performed choral parts in the Pink Floyd film The Wall and recorded with Roger Waters on his hit single "The Tide is Turning".
Pontardulais Male Choir was established in 1960, under the leadership of the late Noel Davies MBE. It was borne out of the Pontarddulais Youth Choir which had become too old for youth competitions.
Under Noel's leadership the choir won a record 11 firsts at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, and one first at the International Eisteddfod, Llangollen until he handed the role to Clive Phillips in 2001, when he retired after 41 years unbroken service as Musical director.
The earliest known recording by the members of the Pontarddulais Male Choir was made in June 1962 in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea at a Service given by the NFSH. The conductor was T. Hayden Thomas, M.B.E., and the organist was Ivor Owen. The 10" LP contained Rhyd-y-Groes, Calon Lan, Teyrnasoedd-y-Ddaear, Gracious Spirit of Thy Goodness, The Lord's My Shepherd, and "He That Shall Endure to the End" from Elijah. It was recorded by David Kent-Watson of Lawrence Recordings, later to become Cameo Classics.
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