Celebrating Tradition: The Cape Welsh Choir
Uniting voices, Inspiring communities, Supporting public causes since 1982
Celebrating Welsh Harmony: Join Our Legacy Today
The Cape Welsh Choir, founded in 1982 after the late Rosa Salmon's move to Cape Town, builds on her legacy of establishing Cor Meibion Cymru in Johannesburg in 1978. Our inaugural meeting included nine founding members, primarily from the Cape Welsh Society. While the first meeting was focused on setting a foundation for commitment to public service, it ended without a single note sung.
We are an inclusive male voice choir, welcoming choristers from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, or religion. Dedicated to preserving the tradition of Welsh Male Voice Choirs, we actively support Public Benefit Organisations and foster the art of choral singing. Join us in making harmonious contributions to our community.
Tours
The attraction of ‘Welsh’ choirs arises from their being based on the male voice choirs of Wales, which in turn have become famous for their musical excellence and the nature of their repertoire. The Choir has undertaken many tours in the past, the highlight of which was attending the 1000 voices concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2007. Other local tours have included a West Coast tour to Springbok, performing concerts at smaller towns on the way up and down and a South East coast tour which culminated with a concert at Port Elizabeth University, and also included three other concerts along the way.
Performances
The Choir has performed in Bloemfontein and with the two Johannesburg Welsh Choirs and with international visiting choirs at die Groote Kerk, the Artscape and Baxter theatres. The choir was also invited to sing with Peter Karrie, the Welsh singer of Phantom of the Opera fame. A further highlight was being invited to sing on board the QE2 when it berthed in Cape Town. And also another cocktail concert aboard the HMS DRAGON in Cape Town Harbour. The Choir is very popular in out of town venues and often travels 50+kms to entertain country audiences which have included Hermanus, Gaansbaai, Tulbach, Worcester and Montagu. Our Choir is a voluntary group, the only benefit we receive is the applause of the audience and the absolute camaraderie we share through singing.
Harmony for a Cause
Led by Jan Thorne and Helen Broekmann, the Cape Welsh Choir has about twenty-five choristers. In 38 years, we've performed over 860 concerts and fundraisers for various causes. Our mission is to promote Welsh Male voice choral singing and raise funds for deserving causes. As a registered Non-Profit Organisation and members of the Welsh Association of Male Voice Choirs, we have strong ties with the Cape Welsh Society. Our choir includes Welsh and South African members from diverse backgrounds. We are currently marketing to boost exposure, increase fundraising events, and expand our choir.