Cantorion Colin Jones
Cantorion Colin Jones is a Welsh concert chorus founded by the late Colin Jones on 1 September 1991 in the Lecture Theatre of Plas Coch College (later Glyndŵr University). The Choir united many of the finest singers whom Colin had taught earlier as conductor and voice tutor. Several of the singers also conducted choirs across North Wales.
The first public performance of Cantorion Colin Jones was in William Aston Hall, Wrexham, North Wales in February 1993. Coincidentally, this was alongside the Lecture Theatre where the chorus was established. Following this performance, invitations were received to tour international venues to bring their unique sound to many audiences. During this time the name was supplemented with "The North Wales Male Chorus". In 1996 they toured Australia performing in several venues and gave a performance in Singapore. In 1999 they travelled to Minneapolis, Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria, thrilling audiences wherever they performed. A tour to California soon followed, as did a visit to Orlando for the North American Gymanfa Ganu festival. In between time, they found time to perform in Finland.
The choir regularly supported cultural events and charitable causes in England and Wales, their performances helping to raise money for the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the Urdd Eisteddfod and many local Eisteddfodau.
Their first CD contained their most requested songs and was produced under the banner of "Famous Welsh Choirs" associated with the Black Mountain Record label. In 2003 the choir released their 2nd CD "In Concert" (Mewn Cyngerdd) under the Sain Recordiau Cyf label SCD2464 which featured songs performed in live concerts. Several of the pieces on this recording have been used on compilation CD’s produced by Sain.
After 17 years as its original founder and choral architect, Colin Jones retired in November 2008. His vision in establishing and directing a chorus to an almost legendary status with an excellent reputation, enabled international audiences to experience a thrilling sound and unique experience.
In February 2009, John Daniel was appointed Musical Director. A South Walian by birth, John lived in Rhosllannerchrugog, the same village as Colin. He had previously been the Musical Director of Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir and the Rhos Male Voice Choir and he continued the theme of choral excellence and thrilling audiences.
The choir released their third CD "Nessun Dorma" in 2011.
In 2011, John introduced his first Male Voice Choir workshop in Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley. Members of the public were invited to join the ranks of the Cantorion for a rehearsal.
In 2012 John Daniel retired and the choir appointed Aled Wyn Edwards as its third musical director.
At the AGM in 2015, the choir was rebranded as Cantorion Gogledd Cymru.
The name of Cantorion Colin Jones is synonymous with male voice choral excellence and a unique and thrilling sound brought to the chorus by the architect Colin Jones.
In 2016, Colin Jones was invited to assemble a chorus to entertain in a new venture of taking Welsh choral music to international visitors aboard cruise ships travelling the Mediterranean Sea. The singers assembled under the name of Corws Colin Jones and entertained passengers in Barcelona, Genoa, Rome, Messina (Sicily) and Palma de Mallorca.
On their return, several concerts were performed in support of Welsh cultural events and Eisteddfodau.
Colin Jones died in February 2019 and left behind a wonderful legacy of music and performances that are still sought after by supporters of Welsh choral music. He taught and enhanced choirs throughout his lifetime and his gift was working on vocal technique to enhance performance.