The Aberhonddu Male Choir were invited to join the Dunvant Male Choir to attend the North American Festival of Wales held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The festival ran from Thursday, August 29 until Monday, September 2.

Before attending the festival the choirs stopped off in Washington DC and visited the various attractions including Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the White House. Both Brecon and Dunvant Choirs sang a rendition of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau outside the White House - hoping the President would hear!

Other performances in the capital included the University Club to distinguished guests and exclusive members of the Club (tickets at $75 each!), and an Irish Bar named the Dubliner. The choirs were given a very warm welcome, especially as the manager of the pub’s brother is the Club Chairman of Swansea City AFC.

On a long journey by road the choirs made their way to Pittsburgh. One of the buses however did not have air conditioning which meant waiting for a replacement coach in the 36°C heat. Everyone arrived in one piece - albeit a bit sweaty!

The opening concert of the North American Festival of Wales included Mal Pope, Mared Williams (Welsh of the West End), and the selected Urdd winners from 2024 with singing, reciting and clog dancing.

The choirs performed at the Gala Concert on the Saturday evening to a full auditorium, with even a standing ovation for the last song from the keen North American crowd, the majority of which had ancestors from Wales. Following the concert, the singing continued at the hotel for a rapturous afterglow.

The Brecon-based choir performed at the North American Festival of Wales in Pittsburgh, Pensylvania
The Brecon-based choir performed at the North American Festival of Wales in Pittsburgh, Pensylvania (.)

To finish the festival weekend there were two sessions of a Gymanfa Ganu service at the First Lutheran Church in Downtown Pittsburgh. The choir performed Y Tangnefeddwyr in the first session and they joined the congregation for the second session, where Côr Cymry Gogledd America performed. The church was full and the sound of Welsh hymns raised the roof. The Gymanfa Ganu sessions were streamed live and watched by many in America and across the water in Wales. The videos are available below:

Members from the choir had an experience of a lifetime, creating long lasting friendships in America and with the Dunvant Male Choir, and making unforgettable memories. They were honoured to be invited to be part of the Festival in North America and fly the flag high for Aberhonddu and District Male Choir.

Looking ahead to later this month, Aberhonddu & District Male Choir are honoured to host a choir from the hills in Northern Italy, Livinallongo and show them the hills in Bannu Brycheiniog. Livinallongo is a municipality in the province of Belluno – in the heart of the Dolomites, where the Brecon RFC have close ties with the youth rugby team in Belluno.

Coro Fodom (Fodom Choir) will be visiting from Friday, September 20 until Monday, September 23, staying locally in Brecon. A tour of Brecon has been planned followed by an evening concert at St Mary’s Church on Saturday, September 21, starting at 7pm. Come along, join in with the celebrations, and have a listen to the Italian Male Choir performing traditional Italian songs.

Before the choir departs they will have the opportunity to sing in the caves of Dan yr Ogof and entertain the visiting guests on the Sunday morning.

The choir look forward to welcoming Fodom Choir to Brecon and showing them the traditions and culture in Wales, as well as its rich history and the beautiful surrounding hills.