
The Bryncoch Male Voice Choir

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The Bryncoch Male Voice Choir formed in 1982 and its reputation has been enhanced annually.
The Choir have travelled abroad 5 times:
Germany (1987)
Holland (1990)
Canada (1992)
Torrevieja Spain (Holy Week 1995)
The Spanish trip led to an invitation to participate in the 43rd International Habaneras Festival of 1997. The first ever British Choir to receive such an invitation. Memorable engagements include concerts at the New Galleries, London, with the Band of the Royal Marines. The Medway Arts Centre at Chatham.
Oxford Town Hall and Blenheim Palace Chapel. Performances have also been given in the Cathedrals at Brecon, Swansea, Chester and the , Metropolitan Cathedral in London.
The Choir is no stranger to large venues, having appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, St. David's Hall, Cardiff; Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; The Winter Gardens, Bournemouth and at the Civic Hall in Ellesmere Port. Recently, successful engagements have been undertaken at the Upton-upon-Severn Jazz Festival where
they were hosted by the Earl and Countess of Coventry who are the Choir's Patrons.
In the competitive field, the Choir has also enjoyed some success, having twice won the First prize at the prestigious Lampeter Eisteddfod. The 1997 Torrevieja Competition pitted the Choir against some of the finest choral groups in the world, and although they were not prize winners, the Choir
received favourable acclaim from the audience and also from the International panel of judges.
The Musical Director, Miss Rachel Perkins, took up the Choir's baton at a very crucial time. A mere three weeks prior to the 1997 Torrevieja competition. She had been the choir's accompanist for only two years, but took on the challenge with complete confidence. This young and talented musician hails from
Glynnneath and studied at trinity College, Carmarthen. Rachel now lives in Bryncoch and is a member of Resolven Amateur Operatic Society, having been a prominent performer with them for several seasons.
The Choir has developed friendly relationships with many groups, notably in Texas and Maryland in the USA, Iceland, Toronto, Esslingen in Germany, Scheidam in Holland and also with South Africa Male Voice Choir. The Choir is 'twinned' with several male voice choirs in both England and Wales. A great deal
of their work is done for charities and to date over £75,000 have been raised by the Choir for a whole range of deserving causes.
The Choir Travelled to Gillingham Kent in April 2000 and took part in the Welsh Society's Annual Concert.