Landmarks 1883 - 1943
1883
July
A choir of more than 20 men, who were all members of the Treorchy Mixed Choir, won the first prize of £1 for their performance of “Myfanwy” at an eisteddfod in the Red Cow Hotel, Treorchy.
October
The newly formed Treorky Male Choir won thirty shillings for their performance in the Corner House Hotel, Treherbert.
1885
Spring
William Thomas became the Conductor of the Treorky Male Choir and led them to victory at an eisteddfod in St Fagans on Whitsun weekend where they won £5 for their performance of “Comrades in Arms”.
1888
August
The Choir won the Royal National Eisteddfod at Brecon.
1891
August
The Choir gained the second prize in the Royal National Eisteddfod, Swansea.
1893
August
The Choir gained the second prize in the Royal National Eisteddfod, Pontypridd against their greatest rivals, the Rhondda Glee Society. The winning choir performed at the Chicago World Fair.
1895
May
The Choir won the Semi-National Eisteddfod in Caerphilly.
August
The Treorky Male Choir won the Royal National Eisteddfod, Llanelli.
September
The Countess of Dunraven invited the Choir to perform a Dunraven Castle near Bridgend.
November
The Choir gave a series of seven celebrity concerts at the Panoptican Theatre, Cardiff.
November 29
The Royal Command Performance before Queen Victoria and the Royal Family at Windsor Castle.
December 13
Conductor William Thomas received a bejewelled baton from Queen Victoria.
1896
January 2
A celebratory dinner was held in the Drill Hall, Pentre, for the Treorky Male Choir. William Thomas selected 25 choristers to form the Royal Welsh Male Choir.
1897
April
The last recorded existence of the original Treorky Male Choir was in an eisteddfod under the conductorship of John Bebb.
1917
December
The first recorded existence of the newly formed Treorchy & District Male Voice Choir. Conducted by John Pugh, rehearsals were held in Park Hall, Cwmparc.
1921
October
The Choir gained the third prize in the Mountain Ash Welsh Musical Festival.
1922
June
Under the baton of John Pugh, the Choir won an eisteddfod at the Opera House, Treherbert.
June
Gwilym T. Jones became the Conductor of the Treorchy & District Male Voice Choir.
November
The Choir won an eisteddfod at Williamstown Wesleyan Church.
1923
July
A celebrity concert was held at Bethania Chapel, Treorchy.
1924
January
The Choir gained the first prize at an eisteddfod in the Workmen’s Hall, Ferndale.
April
The Choir won the first prize of a silver cup at the Eighth Annual Chair Eisteddfod in Ferndale. During the same weekend they also gained the first prize at an eisteddfod in Gilfach Goch Workmen’s Hall.
May
The Choir won an eisteddfod in Pontypridd.
June
The Choir performed with the Parc and Dare Silver Band at Ystradfechan Park before the Duke of York. Later that month they won two local eisteddfodau at Llandaff and Pontypridd.
August
Travelling by charabanc, the Choir competed in five eisteddfodau in one day at Lampeter, Glynderwen, Newcastle Emlyn, Burry Port and Carmarthen. They won all five competitions.
November 19
The Choir performed at the Central Hall, Westminster, London.
1925
March
The Choir won eisteddfodau in Ferndale and Ynysybwl.
June 5
Under the baton of Gwilym T. Jones the Choir won the Pontypridd Semi National Eisteddfod.
1927
May
The Choir won an eisteddfod in Pontypridd .
October
Following the resignation of Gwilym T. Jones, John Isaac Jones became the new Conductor of the Treorchy & District Male Voice Choir.
1929
August 10
The Choir won the first prize in an eisteddfod in Pontarddulais. The adjudicator was Sir Hugh Roberton.
1930
April
The Choir gained second prize in the South Wales Chair Eisteddfod, Treorchy.
1932
November
The Choir won the £75 first prize at an eisteddfod in the Central Hall, Westminster, London.
1933
July 22
Following the resignation of John Isaac Jones, W.D.Evans became the Conductor of the Treorchy & District Male Voice Choir.
1934
March
The Choir won the Treorchy Semi-National Eisteddfod. Later that month they also gained the first prize at an eisteddfod in Porthcawl.
1935
April
The Choir won the Porthcawl Easter Eisteddfod.
June 10
The Choir gained the first prize at an eisteddfod in Llanelli.
October 22
The Choir made their first radio broadcast from the Park & Dare Hall, Treorchy.
November
For the third consecutive time, the Choir won the Musical Festival at Central Hall, Westminster, London.
1936
April
For the third consecutive year the Choir won the Porthcawl Eisteddfod.
June 2
The Choir won the Treorchy Semi National Eisteddfod.
1938
May
The Choir won the Treorchy Chair Eisteddfod.
July
Mr W.D. Evans resigned and Arthur Davies was appointed Conductor of the Treorchy & District Male Voice Choir.
September
John Haydn Davies was appointed Assistant Conductor and Tom Jones was appointed Assistant Accompanist.
1939
May
The Choir performed a celebrity concert in the Park & Dare Hall, Treorchy. The first half of the concert was broadcast by the BBC.
1941
May
The Choir won the Treorchy Chair Eisteddfod.
September
Following the death of accompanist Tom Knapgate at the age of 49, Tom Jones became the Accompanist of the Choir.
1943
May
The last recorded existence of the Choir was at the South Wales Chair Eisteddfod in the Park & Dare Hall, Treorchy. The Choir gained the first prize.