Davies, John Haydn, 1905-1991

Person

Davies, John Haydn, 1905-1991

John Haydn Davies (1905-1991), musician and local historian, is best remembered as a conductor of choirs and festivals and for his distinguished contribution to Treorchy Male Choir.

He was born in Blaenycwm in the Rhondda Fawr Valley on 3 February 1905, the son of Daniel and Lucy Davies. He received his education at the local school in Blaenycwm, Tonypandy Grammar School and Caerleon Training College. Having completed his course at Caerleon he returned to Blaenycwm as a teacher, becoming headmaster in 1955. In 1960 he was appointed headmaster of Bodrinallt School in the Rhondda. He retired in 1970.

John Haydn Davies became conductor of Blaenselsig Male Choir in 1933, and conducted Blaenycwm Choral Society between 1935 and 1947. After the Second World War he was invited to become conductor of Treorchy Male Choir which, under his baton, gained a huge reputation, performing in concerts throughout Britain and winning eight first prizes at the National Eisteddfod. In 1961 he was awarded the MBE for his contribution to music. He retired as conductor in 1969 but continued as Conductor Emeritus until his death in 1991.

During his tenure as conductor he also adjudicated regularly at local, semi-nationals as well as the National Eisteddfod, and also served on the Music Committee of the Eisteddfod. He took a keen interest in the history of the Rhondda Valley and especially in the Rhondda choral music tradition. He contributed to Rhondda Past and Future, a work published in 1975 under the editorship of K. S. Hopkins. He was a prominent and active member of Blaenycwm Welsh chapel.