We have a current membership of 48 drawn from a wide area around Whitland. Members come from Maenclochog and Newcastle Emlyn in the north, Haverfordwest in the west, St Clears and Carmarthen to the east and Laugharne, Tenby and Manorbier in the south. We all share an enthusiasm for singing in harmony and, at the same time, raise money for local charitable organisations.

The origins of the choir are shrouded in mystery but singing in Whitland goes back into the nineteenth century. The Western Mail stated on February 6th 1985 that the choir was founded in 1890 and that it was one of the oldest choirs in Wales. The history of Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir records that their first competition was at the Narberth eisteddfod in 1896 against Narberth and Whitland, Narberth won. In ‘The Welshman’ dated 25th January 1901 it was reported that the Whitland Male Voice Party (male voices over 12 in number) under the baton of Tom Davies had competed in the Whitland eisteddfod. There was also The Whitland Choir (over 25 in number) which was awarded a special prize for their rendition of “Awn, awn i ben yr Wyddfa”. The choir still holds today a tuning fork presented to the conductor of the Male Voice Party in 1901. The air clears a little when ‘The Welshman’ reported on 1st May 1914 that a meeting had been held in the Council School. North Road, Whitland on 26th April to select a conductor for a united male voice choir - presumably because so many men had left for the trenches of the Great War. It was reported that there were two choirs in attendance under the leadership of Tom Davies, Market Street and John Rees, Moss Cottage, Velfrey Road. It was decided that a new choir be formed called ‘The Whitland and District United Male Voice Choir’, the president to be John Rees and the conductor Tom Davies. The secretary was J H Stephens, Velfrey Road, Whitland.

In 1922 Danny Stephens became conductor until his death in 1983 (61 years),

The name of the choir was changed in 1953 to Whitland and District Male Choir.

Past musical directors were Pat Jones 1983-4,            Paul Williams 1985-90,
                                     Christine Shewry 1991-5,  Rhian Jones 1996,
                                     Richard Stephens 1996,     Peter Carder 1997-8

The present Musical Director is Juliet Rossiter who joined the choir in early 1999. By profession Juliet was a deputy head teacher of a big primary school in Pembroke, She trained in Swansea where she studied music and particularly enjoyed playing piano duets in concert with her tutor Robin North. Our deputy conductor and accompanist is Hefina Jones who moved to this area in 1997 from Capel Iwan where she was the accompanist for Côr Bro Nest.

National Eisteddfod 1990

Paul Williams with the Cup