Côr Meibion Taf was formed in 2004 by Rob Nicholls when around twenty men gathered in Tabernacle Chapel, The Hayes, Cardiff, with the intention of establishing a Welsh medium Male Choir in the capital city. Since its inception, the choir has grown to include over seventy members, with many of the original crew remaining within its ranks.
We have won first prize at the National Eisteddfod on three occasions, and have performed many times on radio and television in Wales and abroad. The Choir appeared on Spanish television whilst on tour there in 2011. Côr Meibion Taf are regularly invited to perform in concert for various charitable causes, and have sung many times at the Millennium Stadium as the invited choir before international rugby matches. We have also appeared on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, London as part of the biannual London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs on a number of occasions.
The choir’s conductor, accompanist and officials are listed below.
Conductor – Steffan Jones
Steffan was born in Cardiff in 1987. He was a Choral Scholar in the Chapel Choir of Worcester College, Oxford University, before moving to London to study voice at the Royal College of Music.
As a soloist, he has sung with Welsh National Youth Opera, Welsh National Opera MAX, performed Fauré’s Requiem at St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Bernstein Mass at the BBC Proms in 2012. In 2011, he won the Under 25 Solo at the National Eisteddfod and as a result, he competed in the Bryn Terfel Scholarship on S4C. During 2014, he traveled as a soloist to Ottawa, Canada, to perform in a series of concerts with the city’s Welsh Society. During his time in London, Steffan founded an Aelwyd of the Urdd, alongside others. He was the first conductor of the Aelwyd’s choir and the Girls Choir won at the Snowdonia Urdd Eisteddfod in 2012. Since November 2015, Steffan has been the conductor of Côr Meibion Taf. To date, he has led the choir on tours to Dublin and Rome, as well as numerous concerts. Steffan was also responsible for co-leading Côrdydd at the Welsh Festival of Ontario in 2016. He currently studies with Gail Pearson and at the 2018 Cardiff National Eisteddfod, he reached the Blue Riband Competition.
Accompanist – Lowri Guy
Lowri hails from Penrhyn-coch near Aberystwyth. She graduated from University College of Wales, Bangor with first class honours in music, also receiving a Master’s degree. She is the Head of Music at Garth Olwg Comprehensive School, Pontypridd. Lowri is in great demand as an accompanist, having appeared as one of the official accompanists at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and for the Bryn Terfel Urdd Gobaith Cymru Scholarship on several occasions. As the Choir’s accompanist since 2006, she thoroughly enjoys the company of the boys! All the choir members appreciate her commitment and talent, and are extremely fortunate to have someone of Lowri’s experience as their accompanist. She’s married to Tom and they have two young children.
Officials
Chair: Rhodri Jones
Secretary: Colin Williams
Treasurer: Penry Thomas