2000-09

2000

The choir began the new millennium by performing in the BBC’s Songs of Praise at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 2 January. In February, their Annual Concert featured guest artists Guang Yang and the ‘Buy-As-You-View’ Cory Band. They toured Ireland (Wexford and Killarney) in April and later recorded for BBC Radio 2’s Sunday Half Hour at St Michael & All Angels Church, Maesteg. In October, they performed with the Band of the Welsh Guards at Maesteg Town Hall.

​

• Tour of Ireland (April 2000): The choir toured Ireland under Musical Director Alun Hodges and Accompanist Suzanne Best, performing at Killarney Golf Club to support Lions Club charities and at St. Francis Priory Church in Wexford alongside the Wexford Ladies Choir. Guest instrumentalist Rachel Best and compere Anthony Bwye also took part.

• Charity & Local Concerts: The choir performed at the Catholic Club in Maesteg for Canon Felix Connolly's church repair appeal, at Warwickshire Golf Club in Coventry for the Cambrian Welsh Society Cancer Research Hospice Appeal, and gave a short charity concert at The Orangery in Port Talbot.

• Community Honours: Rehearsing for a concert at Canaan Chapel in September, the choir was presented with a plaque and scroll from the Llangynwyd and Cwmfelin Community Council recognizing their years of service.

• Chorister Award: Nicholas "Nick" Whitty received the Most Improved Chorister of the Year Award.

​

2001

The choir achieved Runners-Up at the South Wales Miners' Eisteddfod in Porthcawl. They were active in various civic and charitable events, including the inauguration of the Mayor of Maesteg and performances for the Welsh Air Ambulance, RNLI, and Royal British Legion. The year concluded with a tour of Cornwall, which included a concert at the Ridgeway Methodist Church in Plympton.

​

• Annual Concert (10 March 2001): Held at Maesteg Town Hall with chairman Dafydd Iwan, featuring baritone David Kempster. The choir performed arrangements by Suzanne Best ("Scarlet Ribbons", "Wind Beneath My Wings", "Ai Am Fo'i Haul") and Alun Hodges ("St. Clement").

• Major Performances & Events: The Gleemen sang in a Grand Concert for the Welsh Air Ambulance at the Royal Theatre Port Talbot with Stan Stennet MBE, performed at a Remembrance Day Celebration Concert at Maesteg Town Hall, visited Coventry for a concert at West Orchard United Reformed Church, and sang at the Mayor's Inauguration at St. Michael's Church.

• Competitions & Tour: The choir placed 2nd at the Miner's Eisteddfod in Porthcawl. They also took a weekend tour to Cornwall organized by Secretary Richard Howells, receiving the Armorial Bearings of the Corporation of Plymouth.

• Charity & Community Work: Performances included a charity concert for the RNLI at Bridgend Police Club, a concert at the Royal British Legion Maesteg, a Palm Sunday service at Margam Crematorium, and Christmas carol singing at Maesteg Cricket Club and The Old House Llangynwyd.

​

2002

The Annual Concert featured Irish soprano Cara O’Sullivan. The choir embarked on a "pilgrimage" to Scotland, touring as guests of the Clydebank Male Voice Choir and leading the community singing at the Scotland v Wales Rugby International at Murrayfield Stadium. They also made an arduous journey to perform at the Sergeants’ Mess at Bulford Camp, Salisbury Barracks.

​

• Annual Concert (9 February 2002): Featured soprano Cara O'Sullivan and euphonium soloist John Hitchens, chaired and accompanied by Bryan Davies. A duet of "Danny Boy" with Cara O'Sullivan was the evening's highlight. Long-service commemorative watches and Life Memberships were presented to Myrddin "Megs" Jenkins and Gerald Seymour.

• Civic & Paid Concerts: The Gleemen sang at a Bridgend County Borough Civic Service at St. Michael's Church and provided entertainment for Civic Sunday at Central Church Maesteg. Paid concerts were held at Beaufort Salisbury, W.M. Club and Institute Maesteg, and Riverboat Athletic Football Club Caerau.

• Charity & Community Activities: The choir performed charity concerts for the RNLI at All Saints' Church Porthcawl, Llangynwyd Village Hall, and the Catholic Social Club. They performed at five weddings across Laleston, Maesteg, and Coity.

• Awards & Social Events: Nicholas "Nick" Whitty was named Chorister of the Year. The choir also performed for Rachel Best's graduation at Dinas Powys and for the "Inner Wheel" at Maesteg Golf Club.

​

2003

The choir hosted the inaugural ‘Bridgend County Young Singer of the Year’ competition in January. The Annual Concert featured the ‘Opera Babes’ and was a complete sell-out. Other highlights included performing at Coity Castle for the "Choirs in the Castle" event and returning to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. A second concert with the Band of the Welsh Guards was held in October.

​

• Joint Concert with The Band of the Welsh Guards: Held at St. Michael's and All Angels Church in Maesteg, where Major Phillip Shannon MBE commended the Maesteg Gleemen as "one of the finest choir's we have ever had the pleasure to be in concert with".

• Annual Concert & Repertoire: Highlighted key arrangements by Suzanne Best, including "How Soon", "The Flower That Shattered The Stone", "The Sunshine of Your Smile", "Let It Be Me", "God Be With You Till We Meet Again", and "Unwaith Eto'n Nghymru Annwyl".

• Competitions & Festival Appearances: The choir participated in "Choirs of the Castle" at Coity Castle and travelled to compete at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

• Charity & Care Home Concerts: Performances included concerts for the RNLI in Porthcawl, the Mayor of Bridgend Gala Dinner, Frontline Bible Church, Aberkenfig Conservative Club, Dinas Powys Bowling Club, and Christmas concerts at Llys Faen Home and Bryn Celyn Care Home.

• Section Award: At the Annual Ladies Night, the Top Tenors were awarded the James Taylor Memorial Shield for the best section of the year.

​

2004

In February, the choir toured Spain and Gibraltar, performing at Fuengirola and Calahonda. Their Annual Concert featured New Zealand tenor Andrew Sritheran. They also performed for the Cambrian Welsh Society in Coventry and at the Mayor of Bridgend’s Gala Dinner.

​

• Costa Del Sol Tour (Spain): Secretary Richard Howells organized a concert tour to Spain, featuring performances at the Casa De La Cultura in Fuengirola (27 February) and the Berg Marken Concert Hall in Calahonda on St David's Day (1 March). The tour was supported by the local group "Welsh Roots" and raised funds for the CUDECA cancer care organisation.

• Bridgend Young County Singer of the Year: The choir co-hosted the annual competition at Maesteg Town Hall alongside Bridgend County Borough Council, with Clare Michelle Edwards and Alyn Hawke named as the winners.

• Community & Christmas Concerts: The choir performed its annual Christmas concert for residents at Llys Faen sheltered accommodation in Bridgend, raising £50 for Parkinson's Disease research.

​

2005

The choir toured Scotland again, appearing live on the Roy Noble Radio Show in Edinburgh and returning to Murrayfield. They performed at the Palace of Westminster and the Welsh Office in Whitehall. Competitively, they took 3rd place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Eryri (North Wales). They released their fourth album, ***Unwaith Eto (Once Again)***, and performed a charity concert for Cancer Research UK in Plympton.

​

• Scotland Tour: The choir traveled to Scotland in March, performing joint concerts with the East Fife Male Voice Choir in Glenrothes and the Stirling Male Voice Choir in Falkirk. They were presented with a commemorative silver cup and provided pre-match field entertainment.

• Charity & Community Work: Regular charity concerts at Frontline Bible Church in Aberkenfig raised several thousand pounds for causes such as Tŷ Hafan and an orphanage in Uganda. The choir also performed at the Old Regal Cinema in Maesteg for the Llynfi Valley Council of Churches, the Mayor's Gala Dinner, and All Saints Church in Porthcawl for the RNLI.

• Special Venues & Annual Concert: The choir sang at the extension of a private house formatted as a miniature venue, the Hippodrome Music Hall. Their Annual Concert featured guest soloists, an instrumentalist, and a themed country-style performance with cowboy uniforms and bales of hay.

​

2006

The 48th Annual Concert featured Chilean tenor Luis Olivares Sandoval. In April, the choir's musical director, Alun Hodges, and accompanist, Suzanne Best, were married. The choir was presented with the BCBC Silver Citizenship award and competed at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea. They also participated in a concert at Maesteg Town Hall celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first performance of the Welsh National Anthem.

​

• Marriages & Leadership Milestones: Musical Director Alun Hodges married Accompanist Suzanne Best on 15 April, receiving a congratulatory card from Bryn Terfel. On 26 April, third-in-command Brian Payne took over conductorship for a practice session during the absence of the primary directors.

• Awards & Competitions: The Gleemen were awarded the Silver Award for Citizenship by Ogwr Borough Council. They hosted the 4th Dunraven Windows Young Singer of the Year competition and competed in the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Swansea.

• Major Concerts & Events:

  • Held a joint concert at Frontline Church with past Young Singer winners, raising £800 for Cancer Research.

  • Celebrated a 50th Anniversary Fundraiser at the Maesteg British Legion.

  • Performed a major joint concert with The Band of the Welsh Guards at Maesteg Sports Centre on 16 October.

  • Sang at numerous weddings throughout the year, including a record 38 choristers performing at St Cathrins Church, Baglan.

• Historic Tri-Choir Collaboration: On 20 December 2006, history was made in Maesteg when all three male voice choirs of the Llynfi Valley (Maesteg Gleemen, Maesteg Male Voice Choir, and Côr-y-Hen Bwll) gathered at Dylans Club for joint rehearsals toward a combined charity concert.

​

2007

The choir’s 49th Annual Concert featured soprano Sarah-Jane Davies. Highlights included a "Hat Trick" visit to Scotland, a performance at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and their first appearance at the Shrewsbury Flower Show. They also performed for the Bridge FM "Local Hero Awards" and sang at the opening of a new Tesco store in Maesteg. The year ended with an Eve of 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance.

​

• Annual Concert & Notable Performances: The choir held its 49th Annual Concert on 24 March at Maesteg Town Hall, featuring soprano Sarah-Jane Davies. They also performed at various charity events, including concerts at Aberkenfig Church, Dinas Powis Bowls Club, the Porthcawl Summer Musical Festival, Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and St Barnabas Church in Reading.

• Special Invitations & Civic Events: The Gleemen performed at the opening ceremony of the new Tesco department store in Maesteg and sang for the inauguration of the Mayor of Maesteg, Harry Pheny.

• Three Choirs United: In September, Maesteg's three male voice choirs (Côr Meibion Maesteg, Côr yr Hen Blwyf, and Maesteg Gleemen) joined forces for the first time to form Côr Undebol Cwm Llynfi for a combined charity concert at Maesteg Sports Centre.

• Milestones & Member Recognition: Long-serving choristers Eddie Penny (nearly 40 years) and Warren Griffiths (23 years) retired from the choir in April. At the Annual Gala Evening in November, both were awarded Life Memberships.

​

2008

Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, the choir auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent, reaching the final 177 contestants. They won the Gwalia Cup at the Eisteddfod Teulu James Pantyfedwen and toured Canada and the USA, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Other major events included a concert at the Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Male Choirs, a guest appearance on the Graham Norton Show, and performing Christmas carols at Molineux for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. The Graham Norton show video can be viewed on this website.

​

• 50th Anniversary Celebrations: The choir celebrated its 50th Anniversary (1958–2008) with a Golden Jubilee Concert on 29 March at Maesteg Town Hall, featuring the 2008 Bridgend Young Singers of the Year, Simon Mullins and Caitlin Williams.

• Competitions:

  • In April, the choir travelled to Northern Ireland for the Bangor International Choral Festival, placing 3rd in the Open Choral competition.

  • On 9 August, they competed at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Cardiff, placing 2nd out of seven choirs while performing under the temporary name Côr Meibion Clerwyr Gleemen Male Voice Choir.

• North American Tour & Carnegie Hall: From late August through September, the choir undertook a major tour of Canada and the USA. They performed joint concerts in Burlington, Ottawa, and Montreal, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall, New York on 16 September alongside Bryn Terfel in A Celtic Celebration. The New York Times singled out the Maesteg Gleemen as "the best" ensemble of the evening.

• Other Highlights: In October, they hosted a Joint Gala Concert with the Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir, and in November, they made a guest appearance on BBC2 Wales' Graham Norton Uncut.

​

2009

The sources primarily provide information leading into early 2009, noting that the Young Singer of the Year contest was scheduled for 26 January and the Town Hall was offering salsa classes for beginners starting in January 2009.

​

• Royal Albert Hall & Major Concerts: In April, members of the choir participated in a massed performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Welsh Association of Male Voice Choirs. The Annual Concert at Maesteg Town Hall featured Irish soprano Cara O'Sullivan and BBC Radio presenter Chris Needs as compere.

• Charity Initiatives: The choir sang in multiple charity events, including concerts for Cancer Research at Maesteg RFC, the Tenovus Cancer Charity, and the Hayward House Hospice in Radcliffe-on-Trent.

• Competitions & Name Change: They hosted the 2009 Bridgend Young Singer of the Year competition (won by Rhydian Jenkins and Aled Williams). In August/September 2009, the choir formally dropped the "Clerwyr" title and reverted back to Maesteg Gleemen.