Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir
The Choir was formed in 1947 following the first Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Many of the village men had just returned from the 1939-1945 war and were keen to support the peace initiatives of the Llangollen Eisteddfod with all Nations. Gomer Powell called a meeting in Seion Chapel and the chair was taken by Councillor Joseph R. Jones. Lloyd Edwards a well-respected music teacher from Garth was appointed Conductor with one of his pupils Menna Hughes as Accompanist. Her father Robert Hughes was Treasurer and Merfyn Davies, Secretary and finally Frank Williams was asked to be President.
The Choir was now up and ready to go with a mixture of experienced and mature singers from the Church and four Chapels in the village and the young boys of the Youth Club Choir founded by Wilfred Jones.
The Choir immediately set about getting ready for the next Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1948. It was soon realised that to be a competitive Choir it involved a high level of commitment and hard work.
Lloyd was the ideal man to start the Choir on its quest because he had inexhaustible patience and was determined to bring the Fron Choir up to the standard set by the famous choirs that sang at Llangollen such as the Moravian Teachers' Choir, Czechoslovakia. The Choir had a setback when Lloyd was ill and the Sub-Conductor John Richard Davies was forced to take the Choir to Llangollen and achieved a good performance.
The Choir had its first success in 1950 winning first prize at the Flint Eisteddfod. By now the Choir were competing throughout the Country including the London Eisteddfod.
There would be lots of fun and impromptu entertainment with a few drinks and often travelling through the night to get home just in time for breakfast and for many Choristers straight to work.
In the early years all the Choristers came from Fron but as the Choir progressed new members joined from the neighbouring villages. In 1965 the choir made their first European Concert Tour and gave an outstanding performance at the German International Singing Festival, Bremen. By 1970 after 23 years hard work, Lloyd had built Fron Choir into one of the top International Choirs but after a very short illness he died, aged 61.
In 1971 they appointed John A. Daniel, a young 22 years old music student from Rhos as the new Conductor. John soon established himself and over the next 20 years led the Choir to further success at National and International level. They won at Llangollen in 1977 and 1987 and the BBC Choir competition 3 times. They toured Canada 3 times, Germany and France.
Following the retirement of John the Choir appointed a new Conductor, Val Jones a music teacher from Berriew, Powys. The Choir continued their high standard with a win at Llangollen in 1994 and tours to San Sebastion and Northern Spain, Germany, Holland, Canada, Chicago and Wisconsin. Excellent wins at International Music Festivals in Malta and Athens. After a successful 11 years Val retired.
The present Conductor Ann Atkinson from Corwen was appointed in 2002. Ann trained as a teacher and operatic singer. With Ann the Choir won at the Limburg Music Festival, Germany and had a successful tour to Barcelona.
The Choir is fortunate in having Owen M. Roberts the local music teacher from Trevor as Sub-Conductor and Accompanist Alwena Nutting. The Choir Ladies Committee are always working hard in the background organising fund raising events and have contributed over many years to the success of the Choir.
The Choir has touched most families in this area and brought much happiness to them all and they in turn have been very supportive of the Choir.
There is no better proof of the enjoyment of being in the Fron Choir than the fact that so many Choristers have long service and there are even five founder members still singing. The Choir has made many friends throughout the World and that is exactly why the Choir was formed to reach out in song to other Nations.
Further information can be found on the Choir Website: www.fronchoir.com
