Enjoy singing together, while improving your mental and physical health...
We also offer a safe space for men to talk and share, if they wish, within a supportive and musical environment.
Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir
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About
Our Musical Director
Our Musical Director
Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir meets every Tuesday evening, most weeks of the year, at Ebenezer Baptist Church Hall, Abertillery, Gwent. We rehearse from 6.45pm to 9.00pm with a small break for coffee/tea.
We currently number approximately 40 choristers split into four sections (2 tenors sections and 2 bass sections).
The choir sings a wide genre of songs from Classical, Gospel, Welsh hymns, Wedding favourites, Songs from the Shows and Easy Listening. We also sing in a range of languages including English, Welsh, Latin, German and Xhosa.
There is a growing evidence base that highlights the health benefits of singing or playing music in a group. These activities can be particularly effective for improving mental health and wellbeing, as well as combating loneliness and isolation. Singing in particular can support lung health and be used to help the management of symptoms for conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s.
As well as helping you to improve your singing and Welsh language skills we also provide a safe space for men to talk and share, if they wish, within a supportive environment.
We are a member of the
Welsh Association of Male Choirs (WAMC) and the National Association of Choirs (NAC).
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Our Musical Director
Our Musical Director
Our Musical Director
Stephen Bard MA
Stephen was educated locally attending Nanyglo Comprehensive School where he began his music studies under the former choir conductor Mr Martin Budd who was, at that time, Head of Music. Stephen enrolled at Salford College of Technology where he studied for three years graduating with a Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship.
He took his postgraduate Certificate in Education at Bath College of Further Education later attaining a Masters of Arts Degree in Education from the Open University in 1996.
Stephen joined the Abertillery Orpheus Choir at the age of 15 and was appointed Assistant Musical Director in September 1991. After serving in that post for 8 years he became the Musical Director.
He is also Musical Director of Abertillery Orpheus Ladies Choir and Torfaen Male Voice Choir. He is also a member of the Abertillery Town Band
Our Accompanist
Our Musical Director
Tours and Concerts
Penny Hughes
Penny studied Voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Piano with various International Teachers. Penny has had a succesful career as a piano soloist and won several prizes including the Royal Overseas League competions in London.
Penny gave up a very successful soloist career to play for her first love, Ballet. While in London she played for several ballet schools and was also an extra pianist with the Sadlers Wells Ballet Company, now Birmingham Royal.
In 1990 she moved to Wales and now plays for several RAD schools as well as several Cecchetti Schools. She is one of the associate pianists with the Royal Ballet School in Bath as well as the South Wales Cecchetti Association for which she writes the music for all the exercises for their annual awards.
She is also the official accompanist for four choirs and has a large teaching practice.
Tours and Concerts
Our Musical Director
Tours and Concerts
While the choir was orginally formed in the early 1900's we did not fulfil our first overseas tour until 1982 when we sang for the Pope in Rome.
During the 1980's and 1990's we performed in Germany, Holland, Spain and France, while in 2006 we toured the USA and Canada.
In 2017 the choir represented Wales at the Interceltique Festival in Lorient, France.
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, just before the Pandemic hit.
During 2023 we travelled to Cornwall to sing with Mevagissey Male Voice Choir and hosted Torbay Police and Community Choir.
In 2024 we returned to Germany, (Speyer) to renew choral links with old friends.
We also returned to the Usk Choral Festival, as well as hosting three visiting choirs at our home venue of St Michael's Church, Abertillery.
Later in the year we also returned to Weymouth for the RNLI 200th Anniversary charity concert.
Our History
Our ongoing Story
Our ongoing Story
Abertillery Orpheus Glee Society. which had been in existence since the 1890's was reformed in 1908 by a number of young members of the former Trinity Church, who met up at Jacksons Ice-cream Bar, a favourite church street rendezvous of those days. Mr Tom Bundred was appointed as the choir's first Conductor, while ex-councillor Tow Powell was the first Secretary. Tom Bundred, who also founded the Abertillery Ladies Orpheus Choir in 1911, contined as the choir conductor until his death in 1937 when he was succeded by Mr Ivor Screen, who had been a chorister under Tom Bundred. Mr S Hone was the choir's first Accompanist. Mr W Leigh M.E. was the first President while the first Chairman was was Mr J Cody.
The choir later changed it name to the Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir.
Other former conductors of the choir include Mrs L Edmunds-James, Mr W J Easy, Mr Arthur Cook and Mr Martin Budd.
World renowned singers we have performed with include Dame Clara Butt and 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.
Our ongoing Story
Our ongoing Story
Our ongoing Story
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 and 2022 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.
In 2012 members of the Choir took part in the Wales Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at St David's Hall, Cardiff. 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.
We are always proud to represent out town by performimg in concerts on behalf of the Abertillery & Llanhilleth Community Council including the Annual St David's Day, Remembrance Services and Christmas Community Concerts.
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.
Join our Choir
Our ongoing Story
Join our Choir
You will not be required to have an embarrassing voice test in front of other people, just a short 5 minutes with our Musical Director to enable him to place you in the most appropriate choir section - if you are embarrassed to come along on your own, not knowing any one, then please bring a friend with you as there is always plenty of room for all.
You do not necessarily need to be a Pavarotti or a Bryn Terfel to join the Choir (although it helps). It is more important that you have a pleasant musical voice that is able to blend with others.
The choir is always looking for prospective new members, so why not come along to our rehearsals and find out what we are all about.
There is a small weekly subscription which can be paid in person or, if you wish, you can set up a standing order for payment. If you want more
information contact us via email or come along to Ebeneezer Baptist Church where choir practice takes place on Tuesday evenings at 6.45pm to 9.00pm.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Park Place, Abertillery NP13 1ED
Book the Choir
Our ongoing Story
Join our Choir
We welcome enquiries from other choirs regarding joint concerts and we also welcome enquires from individuals and corporations to sing at Weddings, Corporate or promotional events, Birthdays and fund raisers.
Funerals can be difficult to accomodate due to being weekdays and sometimes at short notice, but we will do our best.
If you would like to discuss booking the choir please contact us by email above.
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For details of our Wedding services please visit our
"With Hwyl in Vein and Song in Heart"
"With Hwyl in Vein and Song in Heart"
"With Hwyl in Vein and Song in Heart"