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The History of the Choir

 

The Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir (or Abertillery Orpheus Glee Society) was founded in 1908, although it had existed under other names since the 1870s, and was predominantly made up of members from local church choirs whom in turn, were employed in the local coal mines. Abertillery is a typically hard worked town in a narrow valley where coal tip clusters and mountains retain the scars of nineteenth century greed for coal at any price.

 

On Tuesday 6th June 1916 Dame Clara Butt, the world renowned Contralto, appeared at the Metropole, Abertillery in a concert to raise funds for the employment of Artistes who were adversely affected by the Great War. The Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir, conducted by Tom Bundred, supported Dame Clara Butt in the concert and the conductor later received a letter from Dame Butt congratulating him on his professionalism and organisational skills.

 

Other world renowned singers we have performed with include the former Principal Bass of the Royal Opera House Robert Lloyd, who subsequently became Patron of the Choir. We have also performed with Peter Karrie, viewed by many as the best Phantom of the Opera ever. Other soloists include Inia Te Wiata, Vernon and Maryetta Midgley, Cynthia Glover and Margaret Price. We have also been blessed over many years with having many fine local singers, both from within and outside the Choir.

 

The choir have sung in many famous venues including the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, The Royal Albert Hall London and St David´s Hall Cardiff. In 1992, the choir took part in the world choir Ten Thousand Voice Concert at The National Stadium Cardiff. In 1999 the choir performed in the closing ceremony of the Rugby World Cup at the new Millennium Stadium. In 2006 the Choir performed at a Gala Concert in aid of Birmingham Children´'s Hospital at the Symphony Hall Birmingham.

 

In 2012 members of the Choir took part in the Wales Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at St David's Hall, Cardiff, while in August 2017 the choir represented Wales at the Interceltique Festival in Lorient, France (pictured above). In 2018 we made our third appearance in the Festival of Welsh Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

We continue to regularly host visiting choirs and in 2019 we hosted a mixed choir from Stavanger, Norway, as well as travelling to Kent for two Concerts, before the Pandemic hit..

 

In 2022 we performed alongside Torbay Police and Community Choir to help them celebrate their 50th Anniversary and later that year we travelled to Chichester, Sussex,

for a joint concert with Solent Male Voice Choir. We also sang at the Usk Choral Festival in Monmouthshire.

 

We were honoured to form part of the on-field male voice choir prior for the Wales vs New Zealand Rugby International at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on November 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

LET ALL MEN SING - BOOK PROJECT

 

 

Having been instigated by former Chairman and chorister Michael "Mick" Bishop, the choir are undertaking a project to create a history of Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir (AOMC) led by Archivist Lyndon Smith.. We are looking to gather information and artefacts that will help us compile a dossier that will be used to aid the generation of this project outcome. The choir themselves have a small library of information, artefacts and photographs along with letters and correspondence from years past. Unfortunately, this information is limited and gaps need filling to create a more comprehensive review.

 

The Book Team are interested in receiving whatever information, photographs, stories, artefacts and memories you may hold or have been involved with since the choir launched in 1908. Each of these members will be happy to talk to you also should you be up for sharing such information.

 

We have created a questionnaire for choir members and wants to extend this to receive similar feedback from anyone outside the choir or who have had any dealings with the choir historically. The questions are laid out below and if you can answer any of them through an email, Mick would love to hear from you. An email address is supplied at the end of this page.

 

If you have anything that can help us at the choir, please share it with us. Don't forget that we are also always on the look out for new male members so come along and join a great institution.