St David's Welsh Male Voice Choir

St David's Welsh Male Voice Choir

St David's Welsh Male Voice Choir. Latest in a linked succession of choirs in Edmonton. The first, the Orpheus Male Voice Choir, was organized in 1908 by a group of men who had emigrated from Europe. They approached Jackson Hanby to act as conductor and prepare them to compete in the Alberta Music Festival. This choir was directed 1909-14 in turn by Claude Hughes and Herbert Wild. Its ranks depleted by World War I, the choir suspended activities until 1917, when its surviving members approached William J. Hendra, a local voice and string teacher, to develop a permanent organization. This became the Edmonton Male Chorus. Between 1917 and 1947 its membership fluctuated between 40 and (in its peak year, 1932) 65 singers. Hendra guided this group to many achievements, including trophies in the Alberta Music Festival, before retiring in 1947. That year a general reorganization and amalgamation of this and two other choirs (the Edmonton Welsh Male Chorus and the smaller St David's Welsh Male Chorus) resulted in a new Edmonton Welsh Male Chorus. This organization sang for several years under various conductors, of whom the most nearly permanent (1954-7) was Douglas Millson. In 1957 the choir was reorganized again, taking the name St David's Welsh Male Voice Choir. The choir gives two main concerts each year. Conductors have included Berwyn Griffiths (to 1980) and Rick William (1980-86), succeeded by Dr Robert Ware in 1986.