Beaufort Male Choir The tradition of choral music in Beaufort can be traced back to 1867 when concerts were reported in Barham Chapel school room and Bethesda Chapel. By 1870 the Merthyr Express stated that Beaufort was ‘noted for the number of singers in contains’. By 1895 a male voice choir from Beaufort was winning eisteddfod competitions throughout Wales and their success culminated in winning the coveted first prize at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea in 1926. Contemporary accounts describe the tumultuous welcome the choir received on their return with conductor Randall Williams being carried shoulder-high. Throughout the years of the Great Depression the choir established strong tradition of supporting various charitable causes. In 1926 a group of choristers who became known as ‘The Street Singers’ toured Somerset, sleeping in church halls and tents whilst singing to raise funds to purchase leather to make and repair shoes for destitute children in the Beaufort area After disbanding before the Second World War the choir reformed in 1948 and soon returned to winning ways with 18 first prizes including the Miners Eisteddfod in Porthcawl in 1956. In the mid-1960s the choir decided to move away from competitive singing to concentrate on concert performances, particularly to support charities. The choir has performed throughout the UK and also in Germany, Malta, Ireland, France and Holland. Prestigious concerts have included singing at Kensington Palace for a Heads of State Summit meeting, massed concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and performing for the Prince of Wales. More recently the choir has sung at the Houses of Parliament and the Senedd St David’s Day celebrations. In 2015 the current choir repeated the experience of the 1926 Street Singers which was filmed for the BBC’s One Show. That in turn led to a joint TV performance of Delilah with the legendary Sir Tom Jones and further TV appearances. More recently the choir were featured on the Every Valley album produced by art rock band Public Service Broadcasting. The album reached number 4 in the album charts and led to the choir performing with the band at the Hammersmith Apollo, the Royal Albert Hall and the Green Man Festival. The Beaufort Male Choir brings together ex-steelworkers, teachers, care workers, builders, engineers etc. with a passion for singing and a lust for life. We proudly carry on the tradition built by 1000’s of choristers who have sung with the Beaufort over the past century and a half.……..we walk on the shoulders of giants.
The History of Beaufort Male Choir
There have been a great number of highlights in more recent years, including singing in Royal Kensington Palace representing Wales at a Heads of State Summit meeting and singing for Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
the choir have undertaken a number of overseas tours to Germany, Holland, Gurnsey, Ireland, France and Malta.
Additionally, we have had the pleasurable experience of twinning and hosting Choirs from Germany, Holland, America, Australia and Japan.
Over the years the Choir has appeared on television and radio and recorded quite a series of records, tapes and CD’s.
