Trio of local concerts to end Fron Male Voice Choir’s 70th anniversary celebrations

A Wrexham male voice choir who have sold over one million records will mark almost of a year of 70th anniversary celebrations with a trio of local concerts.

The Fron Male Voice Choir, whose music is now sold in over 84 countries across the world, started its journey at a meeting at Seion Chapel Froncysyllte way back in 1947.

The village was looking to support the newly formed Llangollen Eisteddfod, and at that meeting it was proposed that a male voice choir was created to compete at the 1948 eisteddfod.

The Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir was quickly formed, however they needed 60 voices and despite recruiting men from the village they were still short. They turned to the local Youth Club choir and managed to persuade some of the youngsters to help make up the numbers. 70 years later, two of those youngsters – Dennis Williams and Gren Gough – are still singing with the choir,

Today the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir is better known as the Fron Male Voice Choir, following on from the success of their series of five Voices of the Valley CD albums recorded under the Fron name.

The five albums were released on Universal’s UCJ or Decca label between 2006 to 2010 and have sold well over one million albums – four of which have been awarded gold and platinum disks for their sales. Their albums were also awarded gold discs for their Australian sales.

The Fron had the honour of appearing in Classic FMs 25th birthday celebration lists by being 8th in the Best Selling Musicians of the past 25 years, and their first album Voices of the Valley being listed as 8th of the top 10 best selling music albums of the past 25 years.

This Wrexham Choir now sells it’s CDs in over 84 countries and their tracks appear on over 90 compilation discs, and are heard alongside some of the world’s biggest stars.

It has been a busy 70th anniversary year for the choir, building on a very special 2016 when the Fron recruited 22 new choristers. In April this year they visited Cornwall to compete at the Cornwall International Male Chorus Festival, where they scooped first prize in the 40 Plus Voices Section.

They were also awarded best UK choir, and best performance of a piece. They have also undertaken a tour of four UK Cathedrals with concerts at Truro, Bangor, Llandaff and Hereford.

In July they sang at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s 70th Anniversary concert where they teamed up with their friends in Colne Valley, Canoldir, and Rhos Male Voice Choir to form a massed choir under the baton of Owain Arwel Hughes.

To end their 70th anniversary celebrations, a trio of local concerts are planned, kicking off at Wrexham Glyndwr University’s William Aston Hall on November 11th. They will be joined by the Three Welsh Tenors (Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Aled Wyn Davies).

On December 9th the choir will join Porthywaen Band at the Holy Trinity Church Oswestry, and finally draw to a close their 70th Anniversary Celebrations with a performance during the day at Chirk Castle on December 23rd.

Any men who enjoy singing and may be interested in joining a choir are welcome to visit their rehearsals at Acrefair School on Mondays and Thursdays 7pm until 9pm to see what is involved. Choral experience and the ability to read music not necessary. Enthusiasm, commitment, the ability to enjoy themselves and be prepared to work hard is more important.