A Welsh choir whose breakthrough came after a music manager heard it singing at a wedding will join Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir for a gala concert at Oxford Town Hall this autumn.
Fron Male Voice Choir, known for its chart-topping Voices of the Valley recordings, will perform at Arches and Spires on Saturday 31 October 2026. Its chairman says the concert will be the choir’s first appearance in Oxford.
The evening will bring together traditional Welsh choral music and contemporary favourites, with each choir performing separately before combining their voices. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Tickets are advertised at £25, with a £12.50 rate for students and under-18s.
At a glance: Arches and Spires
| Event | Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir’s annual gala concert with Fron Male Voice Choir |
| Date | Saturday 31 October 2026 |
| Venue | Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX |
| Doors open | 6.30pm |
| Concert starts | 7pm |
| Advertised tickets | £25 standard; £12.50 for students and under-18s |
| Booking | Book through Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir’s ticket page |
What can audiences expect at Arches and Spires?
The concert will give listeners the opportunity to hear the character and repertoire of each choir individually, followed by a joint performance as a massed male voice choir.
Both groups will bring a mixture of traditional and more recent music. Individual song titles have not been announced, so the programme should not be assumed to reproduce a particular album.
The title links the Fron’s home near the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales with Oxford’s skyline: the aqueduct’s arches meeting the city’s spires.
Steve Winn, chairman of Fron Male Voice Choir, said:
“We’ve never performed in Oxford before, so this will be a first for the Fron. After seeing photographs of the magnificent Oxford Town Hall and, of course, the iconic red jackets of Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir we’re very much looking forward to joining them for what should be a memorable concert.”
Oxford’s own Welsh singing tradition
The visiting choir will be joining an Oxford organisation with a history stretching back almost a century.
Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir was formed in 1928 by Welshmen who had moved to the city looking for work at William Morris’s car factory and Pressed Steel. Its origins connect the tradition of Welsh male voice singing with the development of Oxford’s motor industry.
Originally known as the Oxford Welsh Glee Singers, it adopted its current name in 1978, its 50th anniversary year. It continues to sing in the traditional four-part style, bringing together first and second tenors, baritones and basses.
The choir says about a third of its wider repertoire is in Welsh, although that is not a confirmed language breakdown for the gala programme.
This year’s concert follows collaborations with Treorchy Male Choir and Only Boys Aloud. It also comes as the Oxford choir looks ahead to its centenary in 2028. Its booking page describes the gala as a fundraiser for the choir’s work.
From a village choir to Voices of the Valley
Fron Male Voice Choir, also known as Côr Meibion Froncysyllte, was founded in 1947 in the village of Froncysyllte, near Llangollen, to compete at the newly established Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Competition and concert performances remained central to its life, but a chance encounter brought it to a much wider audience almost 60 years later.
Music manager Daniel Glatman, known for his work with the boy band Blue, heard the choir performing at a wedding. He subsequently helped secure a recording deal with Universal Music in 2006.
The resulting album, Voices of the Valley, was released that November. Official Charts records confirm that it reached number one in the Classical Artist Albums Chart and number nine in the main UK Albums Chart.
Further recordings followed, including Encore, Home and Down Memory Lane. In 2021, Voices of the Valley – Echoes took the choir back to number one in the Official Classical Artist Albums Chart.
The choir says Echoes was made on its own terms, with members choosing the songs, title and artwork while working with the producer and studio associated with its earlier recordings.
Television appearances and a Pavarotti connection
More recently, the Fron was one of three choirs followed for the Sky Arts documentary series Voices of the Valleys, alongside Machynlleth and Beaufort Male Voice Choirs.
The three-part series looked beyond the performances to the rehearsals, friendships and commitment involved in keeping Welsh male voice singing alive. The choir also says its relationship with Wrexham AFC has led to appearances connected with Welcome to Wrexham and the club’s kit campaigns.
Another chapter in its story links North Wales with the Italian city of Modena. In 1955, a 19-year-old Luciano Pavarotti travelled to Llangollen with his father as a member of Modena’s Corale Rossini. Their competition win was an experience he later credited with helping him decide to pursue a musical career.
Seventy years later, in October 2025, the Fron performed alongside Corale Rossini at Modena’s Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni in a concert marking what would have been the tenor’s 90th birthday.
The Oxford gala brings the choir’s next collaboration closer to home, pairing its North Wales tradition with a singing community rooted in Oxford’s own history.
Tickets, timings and booking
Standard tickets are advertised at £25, with tickets for students and under-18s at £12.50. Check the final booking total for any applicable charges before completing a purchase.
The concert begins at 7pm, with doors opening half an hour earlier.
A finishing time needs confirmation: Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir’s event calendar currently lists 9.30pm, while its Ticket Tailor page gives 10pm. Check with the organiser before arranging a time-sensitive return journey.
For questions about tickets, seating or concession arrangements, use the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir contact page.
Getting to Oxford Town Hall
The concert takes place at Oxford Town Hall on St Aldate’s, close to Carfax in the city centre. The full address is Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX.
Oxfordshire County Council’s venue guidance puts the walk from Oxford railway station to St Aldate’s at approximately 15 minutes. Many city-centre bus services stop on St Aldate’s or nearby High Street.
Visitors driving into Oxford can consider Park & Ride rather than city-centre parking. Check Saturday evening return services and car park opening arrangements before travelling.
Step-free access and facilities
The Town Hall’s main entrance has eight steps. A separate level entrance is approximately 28 metres further north along St Aldate’s, towards Carfax. An automatic outer door leads to an inner entrance with a call button for reception.
A lift provides access to the Main Hall, and wheelchair-accessible toilets are available on the ground and first floors. The lift entrance is 80cm wide.
Visitors needing a wheelchair position, particular seating or other support should discuss the concert arrangements with the organiser before booking.
For building access enquiries, contact the Town Hall on 01865 252195 or email townhall@oxford.gov.uk. Further information is available on the Town Hall accessibility page.
Frequently asked questions
Are Fron Male Voice Choir and Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir the same group?
Yes. The choir takes its name from Froncysyllte in North Wales and is widely known as the Fron.
Will the two choirs perform together?
Yes. Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir and the Fron will each perform their own sets before joining together as a massed choir.
Is the concert only traditional Welsh music?
No. The announced programme combines traditional Welsh choral music with more contemporary favourites. A complete song list has not been published.
Are discounted tickets available?
The announcement advertises £12.50 tickets for students and under-18s, compared with the £25 standard price. Check concession requirements when booking.
Event and visitor information checked on 2 October 2026. Confirm current availability, finishing time and access arrangements before booking or travelling.
