The
choir's first competitive effort was at Porth, where it sang
" Crusaders" as the test piece, with 110 singers. During its
first 25 years the choir competed regularly and met with a fair
amount of success although victory at the National Eisteddfod
eluded them, except for being placed second on two occasions.
Some
of the successes gained were
1922
Porth:
First prize £10, and winners at Llanharan
1923
Hirwaun:
First prize £15
1924
Mumbles:
Second prize, beaten by half a point out of 18 choirs.
1926
Aberdare
Park: First prize £10 at Abernant Park
Mardy:
During the General Strike when the choristers walked over
the mountain to and from the Eisteddfod.
Siloa,
Aberdare: First prize £10, beating Pendyrus Male Choir.
A handsome chair presented to the Conductor is now in
Aberdare Museum
Aberaman
Public Hall: Joint winners with Trecynon Male Voice Choir
Aberaman
Park: Two weeks later, when Cwmbach defeated Trecynon.
Abernant Park: First prize £30
1928
National
Eisteddfod, Treorchy: Second prize £20, beaten by the
Scranton Male Choir, USA
1936
Aberdare
Park: First prize
1937
Aberdare
Flower Show: First prize £15
1938
National
Eisteddfod, Cardiff: Second prize£20
1939
Brecon
Eisteddfod: Joint winners with the Breconian Gleemen (Brynmawr)
1944
Pontllanfraith:
First prize £15, and the "Burgess Silver Cup"
1945
Oakdale:
Second prize.
1946
Third
place at both the Treorchy and Ferndale Chair Eisteddfodau
During
the next 25 years the Choir's success came regularly once it
had re-established in the immediate post-war years; for in 1947
it gained the first prize of £30 at Ferndale followed by a second
at the Glynneath Chair Eisteddfod. The following year, 1948,
the Choir improved on its position at Glynneath by winning the
competition, which carried a first prize of £40 plus a challenge
cup. Later the same year the Choir competed at the Miners' Eisteddfod
at Porthcawl, only to be placed fourth out of 24 choirs, but
in the years to follow Cwmbach's record must be the envy of
many choirs in Wales, but despite it's many successes it was
unsuccessful at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1949,1950
and 1951.
From
1952 to the present it has won many major awards at various
Eisteddfodau.
Winners
Glynneath Eisteddfod, £40. Winners Seven Sisters Eisteddfod,
£40, and the W. Morris Challenge Cup.
1958
Winners
Miners' Eisteddfod (£60), and 200 guineas Challenge Cup;
Second prize National Eisteddfod at Ebbw Vale, £60
1959
Glynneath
Eisteddfod: First prize, £30 Llanharan: First prize, £40.
1960
Winners
Miners' Eisteddfod, Porthcawl, £80, becoming first choir
to win the 200 guineas Challenge Cup for the third time.
Three, second prizes at Cardigan Semi-National totalling
£80. Winners Llangattock, £25 and Blaenavon, £30.
1961
Miners'
Eisteddfod, Porthcawl: Second prize £30
1962
Winners
of Chief Male Voice Competition £200, and Second Male
Voice Competition £80, plus the 200 guineas Challenge
Cup at the Miners' Eisteddfod, Porthcawl, to become the
first choir to achieve the 'double' at this Eisteddfod
and to win the Challenge Cup for the fourth time. Winners
Cwmbran, £30
1963
The
choir achieved another 'double' by winning both Chief
Male Voice (£200) and Second MaleVoice Choir competitions
(£60) at the Cardigan Semi-National Eisteddfod. It repeated
the previous years successes at Cwmbran to win first prize
of £30 and first prize of £60 at Carmarthen.
1964
Winners
Pontrhydfendigaid, £300. Second prize, £30, Miners' Eisteddfod,
Porthcawl.
1965
£200 at Pontrhydfendigaid. £65 at Carmarthen. £10 at Morriston.
£80 and the 200 guineas Challenge cup at Miners' Eisteddfod,
Porthcawl, for the fifth time in the Second Male Voice
Competition
1966
Winners
second Male Voice Competition at the National Eisteddfod
at Port Talbot, £200 and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers' Cup.
Winners Pontrhydfendigaid Eisteddfod £200 and the 'Cwpan
Rhys Thomas James'. £50 Second prize Carmarthen. £15,
Miners' Eisteddfod, Porthcawl.
1967
£75
at Cardigan Eisteddfod. Challenge Shield at Bristol.
1968
Winners,
Second Male Voice Choir Competition at National Eisteddfod
Barry, £150 and Royal Welsh Fusiliers' Cup. £75 Cardigan
Eisteddfod. £40 Miners' Eisteddfod, porthcawl
1969
Second
prize £175, Pontrhydfendigaid. Second prize £80, National
Eisteddfod at Flint
From
1970-1992 the choir did not enter the competitive arena. However
during that year they came 3rd in the Male Voice Choir Competition
at Llangollen International Eisteddfod
1970
Winners
Pontrhydfendigaid £600 and 'Cwpan Rhys Thomas James'.
Winners Cardigan Eisteddfod £200. Second prize Miners'
Eisteddfod, Porthcawl, £30. Third place National Eisteddfod
at Ammanford.
1996
Winner
of the Male Voice Competition at the Limerick Festival
Ireland
1998
Winner
of the Chief Male Voice Competition at the Miners' Eisteddfod,
Porthcawl.
