Welcome to
Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir
Nestling in the green rolling hills and forests of the Afan Forest Park in the South Wales Valleys lies the Pelenna Valley. The Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir was founded in 1980 and meets for practice every Sunday night in the Community Centre in Tonmawr. This is just beside the Rugby Clubhouse and forms the heart of the village. We also practise in Bryncoch Community Centre on Wednesday evenings from 7.00 to 8.30 pm.
During the last part of the 19th Century and a large part of the 20th Century the area was dominated by the mining of coal and iron but by the early 1960s mining had ceased in the valley. The pits are all closed now and the area has been landscaped. The once thriving rail hub in Tonmawr is no more but in nearby Pontrhydyfen the large and imposing aqueduct and nearby massive rail bridges bear testimony to its past activities.
The area is now tranquil and scenic and a magnet for mountain bikers and hikers. The choir has members from far and wide, (some travel 25 miles to practices) but the core membership lives in the valley. In 2019 a nearby choir in Bryncoch, Neath, sadly closed. We were sorry to see a choir with a long tradition cease but invited the members to join Pelenna. Our choir has been greatly enriched by their inclusion.
We are glad to follow in the proud tradition of Welsh Male Voice singing but we are determined to adapt with the times. Our aim is to make our performances enjoyable to the whole audience with a good range of music of varied styles and genres. There is no age limit, there is no voice test just a really friendly welcome to a great bunch of guys who enjoy singing together.
