A CHOIR with humble beginnings that went in to become one of the most revered in the world - not to mention Royal favourites - are gearing up to release their sixth studio album in time for St David's Day.

From being formed in a small village to compete at a local arts festival in North Wales over 70 years ago, The Fron Male Voice Choir have an incomparable history.

Now, they have announced the latest chapter in their remarkable story – their sixth studio album Echoes, released on February 26, 2021, in celebration of St David’s Day.

Alongside this, The Fron Choir have shared the first single from the album, a stunning version of ‘Bring Him Home’ from the musical Les Misérables.

Formed in 1947 as a competitive choir in the village of Froncysyllte near Llangollen, The Fron Choir still to this day contains two members from their original incarnation amongst over 400 members who have been a part of the choir over the years.

The Leader:

Echoes will be the choir's sixth studio album

Releasing their debut album in 2007, the choir achieved double platinum sales and was nominated for a Classical Brit Award. Following this initial success, they toured extensively with their albums having sold over a million albums worldwide.

All of this incredible success has garnered a host of famous collaborators for The Fron Choir, having toured or performed with the likes of Alfie Boe, Aled Jones, and Katherine Jenkins; as well as receiving the praise of Royalty with both Prince Charles and The Queen being fans.

On Echoes, the choir members show the diversity of their rich sound, with both modernity and tradition well represented; from Welsh staples such as Llanfair (Willliams), O Iesu Mawr (David Charles) and Tydi A Roddaist (Hughes) and American, Russian and Welsh sacred hymns (The Lords Prayer, Spaséniye Sodélal) to Billy Joel’s And So It Goes, Aznavour’s She and musical numbers A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman), Maria (West Side Story) and Bring Him Home (Les Miserables).

Echoes was produced by Jon Cohen, who has worked with the likes of Katherine Jenkins, Nile Rogers, and Joss Stone, as well as achieving a UK Christmas No.1 single with The Military Wives Choir.

With 2020 making communal singing, one of the most natural art-forms, virtually impossible, it has been a difficult year for choirs to say the least.

However, with its richness of sound, Echoes displays all of the reasons The Fron Male Voice Choir has and will continue to thrive and endure – both in its own community, and all around the world.

The Leader:

The choir's Zoom meeting

About The Fron Male Voice Choir:

  • Full title Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir or Côr Meibion Froncysyllte, The Fron Male Voice Choir was formed in 1947 and is based in the village of Froncysyllte near Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales.
  • Initially set up to compete in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod festival, The Fron Male Voice Choir quickly developed into a first-class, modern choir. Following on their debut album success, the BBC classical music reviewer Michael Quinn reflects on The Fron Choir as “a good example of modern day Welsh Choir singing” and praises their “considerable close harmony talents, beauty of sound and impressive technique”.
  • Since 1947, two members of the original founding of The Fron Choir still remain in the group and are currently in their late 80’s, whilst the choir continually adds new members with the youngest being 31. Currently consisting of just under 60 members, as a touring entity The Fron Choir travel to perform with as many as 35 members.
  • The Fron Choir, through the Llagnollen International Eisteddfod Festival began an enduring association with the world-famous Tenor Luciano Pavarotti beginning in 1955. The Fron choir hosted the Società Corale Gioachino Rossini from Modena, which won first prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod under the musical direction of Luciano’s father, conductor Fernando Pavarotti. Luciano Pavarotti claimed that him singing in the choir and this win inspired him to take up a singing career.
  • The choir’s latest Musical Director, Leigh Mason, took over in 2010. Since her arrival, the choir has gone on to achieve great success, winning competitions in Ireland and Cornwall, and at the world-renowned Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Echos (release date: 26th February 2021) tracklisting:

  1. A Million Dreams (Benj Pasek / Justin Paul, Arr. Leigh Mason)
  2. Llanfair (Robert Williams / William Williams, Arr. Mansel Thomas)
  3. And So It Goes (Billy Joel, Arr. Kirby Shaw)
  4. She (Charles Aznavour / Herbert Kramer Arr. Alan Simmons)
  5. The Bandits’ Chorus (Verdi / Francesco Maria Piave, Arr. Sydney Northcote)
  6. The Seal Lullaby (Eric Whitacre / Rudyard Kipling)
  7. Spaséniye Sodélal (Pavel Grigor Chesnokov / Psalm 74:12, Arr. Vladimir Morasan)
  8. The Lord’s Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte, Arr. Carl Deis)
  9. Maria (Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim, Arr. William Sickles)
  10. O Iesu Mawr (Handel Parker / David Charles, Arr. Luther Greenwood)
  11. Bring Him Home (Claude-Michel Schönberg / Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Arr. Bryan Evans)
  12. Tydi A Roddaist (Arwel Hughes / T Rowland Hughes)