ArtistInfo

Côr Penrhyn

Band,
World and Folk

The choir has its roots in the slate quarrying village of Bethesda in the Ogwen Valley which lies on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park about 5 miles to the south east of the university city of Bangor. The choir can trace its origins back to the 1880’s when a united choir was formed from a number of smaller groups that existed on the various galleries or levels in the mighty Penrhyn Slate Quarry. Indeed, that choir travelled to Chicago for the World Trade Fair in 1893 under the name Penrhyn Male Choir and the present choir returned to “The Windy City” in 1993 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their forefathers’ visit. After the First World War, unfortunately, there is a gap in the story and the choir as we know it today was formed in 1935. In the beginning, almost all members of the choir were slate miners, as a workforce of almost 3000 worked at the quarry, but that number has now shrunk to under 200 and the choir has to draw its members these days from all walks of life including schoolteachers, local government officials, farmers and businessmen. The Penrhyn Male Choir is one of the busiest choirs in Wales and before Christmas 2013 the members shared the stage with Wynne Evans, the operatic tenor who fronted the TV adverts for Go Compare. Just prior to that it was down to Cardiff for the international rugby match with South Africa where the choir was part of the pre-match singing on the pitch at the Millenium Stadium before 75,000 people. The following day a Welsh language TV programme featured the choir with one of Wales’ best known actors, John Ogwen, who hails from the same area.

Members

	Hywel Thomas
	Rhys Llwyd voc
	Barry Davies voc
	Christopher Kay voc
	Douglas Williams voc, b
	Fred Buckley
	Owain Arwel Davies
	John R. Jones voc
	Dafydd Pritchard voc
	Arfon Davies voc
	Ieuan Huhes voc
	Elis Derbyshire voc
	Haydn Davies voc
	Denzii Jones voc
	Rheinallt Puw voc
	Daniel LL Williams voc
	Aled Williams voc
	John Baston voc
	Arwel Owen voc
	Idwal Jones voc
	Johnathan Farrer voc
	Walter Williams voc
	Henryd Jones voc
	John Gwilym Owen voc
	Derfel Roberts voc
	Michael Williams voc
	Bryn Evans voc
	Wyn Roberts voc
	Maldwyn Pritchard voc
	Kevin Coleman voc
	Alun Davies voc
	Mike Evans voc
	Brynmor Jones voc
	Meirion Williams voc
	Llion Derbyhire voc
	Gareth Williams voc
	Bernard Jones voc
	Emyr Fôn Evans voc
	Gerallt Williams voc
	Humphrey Jones voc
	Owain Evans voc
	Gareth W. Williams voc
	Dafydd Jones Morris voc
	Caleb Rhys voc
	Raymond Roberts voc
	Elfyn Bullock voc
	Derek Griffiths voc
	Tom Williams voc