The Australian Welsh Male Choir (AWMC) is a choir of approximately 50 members singing in the spirit of the great male choirs of Wales. We sing in four-part harmony in the traditional format, and recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary.
Our members share a love of music, the pleasure of singing together and the camaraderie that comes from being part of a great group of men. While individual songs are sung in various languages, predominantly we sing in Welsh and English. Songs such as Men of Harlech, Calon Lan, Pantyfedwen and Gwahoddiad as well as other popular music from the musical theatre, opera, gospel music and other local favourites.
In 1984 the Choir toured the United Kingdom and became the first Choir from outside Wales to sing at the 1000 Voice Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the tour, members of the Association of Welsh Male Choirs were so impressed by the Choir’s singing of traditional songs in the Welsh language, that the Choir was invited to become a member of‘ the Association. In doing so, it became the first Choir from outside Wales to be offered such an honour.
We returned to the UK for a Concert Tour and an appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1988 where we performed for the first time ever as a solo Welsh Choir. No other Welsh Choir has done the same since. We have returned to the UK for Concert Tours in 2000, 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2018.
In 2005 another great highlight for the choir was to sing in the Sydney Opera House as part of a concert combining choirs from Australia and overseas. The choir was especially proud to be asked to perform two numbers solo. We were in the Opera House again in November 2007 as part of a massed international choir. In October 2008 we travelled to New Zealand.
We regularly provide concerts throughout Melbourne, Victoria and interstate. We are involved in the Male Choirs Association of Australia and will be performing in Wollongong with a combined choir in October this year.
In recent years the choir has tours China and Hong Kong, Scotland, England and Wales culminating in a perfomance with many other choirs at the Royal Albert Hall.