About us

Côr Meibion Penybontfawr is based in the village of Penybontfawr, a small village in a mainly farming area, situated in North Montgomeryshire at the head of the scenic Tanat Valley and near the Berwyn Mountains.  

We meet every Wednesday evening (8pm) in the community hall at Ysgol Pennant Primary School.  For a map of where we are please Click Here or, if you are travelling to meet us and have a Satnav , just enter the postcode of SY10 0PA.

Here, in 1951 under the original  title  “Cor Meibion Barrog”, named after the stream that joins the river Tanat in the village, 12 singers, under the leadership of a talented local farmer Mr Spuriel Evans and his wife, he the conductor and she the accompanist, formed the foundation of Cor Meibion Penybonfawr  which now has just over 40 members.   Following Mr. Evans’ death in 1968, Emyr Lloyd Jones was invited to conduct the choir which he very successfully did until his retirement in 1994. Following the retirement of Mr Emyr Lloyd Jones, we were very fortunate to have Tegwyn Jones as our Musical Director.  He was previously a chorister with the choir and is also a well known baritone soloist.   Our accompanist since 1974 is Lynda Thomas,  a niece of the choir founder conductor.  She has been exceptionally loyal to the choir during this time and a tower of strength to both musical director and choir.  She retired in 2019!  Together they are a reflection of the depth of unassuming musical tradition and its excellence that is to be found naturally in the ordinary work-a-day world of the Welsh rural and industrial communities.

Our village lies at the foot of the Berwyn Mountains in the lovely Tanat Valley, with the stillness of the Pilgrimage Shrine of St Melangell in Pennant Melangell at its head. Close by is one of the seven wonders of Wales, Pistyll Rhyaeadr and the village of Llanrhaeadr–ym-Mochnant itself, where in 1588 the then Vicar, who later became Bishop William Morgan, translated the Bible into Welsh.  We are also near to the well known Lake Vyrnwy which was built to supply the city of Liverpool with water. So the whole of the area is well worth including on your holiday list or part of your touring holiday.  The natural Lake Bala is very close to us, as are the market towns of Welshpool and Oswestry. The Marches towns of Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Hereford are an easy day trip, as too are the seaside resorts on Cardigan Bay in the other direction.

Visitors

We really enjoy our rehearsals when potential new members or holiday makers come to listen to us at practice.  We have entertained folk from as far away Australia, Norway, Holland and one young visitor from Florida still speaks of her surprise and delight to hear a Choir of men in the middle of rural Montgomeryshire singing “Dixie” for her.