After almost a year of 70th anniversary celebrations, the Fron Male Voice Choir end the year with a concert in Chirk.

For the choir, a meeting at Seion Chapel Froncysyllte way back in 1947 has significant importance.

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

The Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir was formed. However, they needed 60 voices so they turned to the Youth Club choir and persuaded some of the youngsters to join. Seventy years on, two of those youngsters – Dennis Williams and Gren Gough – are still singing with the choir.

They have performed under all five of the choir’s musical directors.

Today, they’re better known as the Fron Male Voice Choir, following the success of their series of five Voices of the Valley CDs which sold more than one million copies. Four of the albums received gold and platinum discs for sales, and a gold in Australia.

This Wrexham choir, which also has members from Shropshire, now sells CDs in more than 84 countries and their tracks appear on over 90 compilation discs, and they are heard alongside some of the world’s biggest stars.

In April they competed in the Cornwall International Male Chorus Festival, where they won first prize in the 40-plus voices section and awarded best UK choir, and best performance of a piece.

They toured four UK cathedrals and in July sang at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s 70th anniversary concert.

On November 11 they are singing at Glyndwr University’s William Aston Hall, where their guests are the Three Welsh Tenors (Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Aled Wyn Davies).

On December 9 they join Porthywaen Band at the Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry, and finally bring their anniversary celebrations to a close with a performance during the day at Chirk Castle on December 23.

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 from 7pm until 9pm to see what is involved. Choral experience and the ability to read music not necessary.