Choristers up close - Alun Lloyd-Evans
Alun Lloyd-Evans
Section - Tenor 1
How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?
I come from quite a musical family. My mam, Mary, and her sister Jean were both songstresses in the Salvation Army choir in Risca, and their brother, my uncle John Taylor, sang as a top tenor and soloist with the Mellotones in Cwmbran. My dad, Graham Evans, could also hold a damned good tune.
In my late teens and early 20s, I hung around with several punk and folk bands, living for some time in London and Ireland. I picked up work as a roadie with “The Beatless” (please note the double “s” making it not what you thought!), and occasionally with “Horslips”. Now and again at less formal gigs, I was persuaded to get up and sing a few songs for the price of a couple of beers. My favourite was to do some toasting to a bit of heavy dub reggae.
Sometime in the early 1980s, I went along with my mam to see Risca Male Choir sing in the Coptic Church in Risca (formerly, Trinity Methodist Church), and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Afterwards, I was talking to some of the choristers, and somebody said ‘What on earth is somebody like you doing here?’ – I had my hair in a blue mohawk at the time. I replied ‘I just love this sort of thing’. Whoever it was, said ‘Do you fancy joining us?’ and I replied ‘Maybe, one day!’
Years later, my daughter, Alice was singing in the Ty-Sign Junior School choir. I went to see them in a concert they were performing jointly with Risca Male Choir at Bethany Baptist Church in Risca. As you can all imagine, it was a wonderful experience, and me being such a proud Dad. I then thought to myself ‘I must give this a try, and see if I can do that’.
I went along to a rehearsal a few days later with my long hair and dreadlocks tied back, and quite a long Fu-Man-Chu style moustache – and you should have seen the surprised looks when I said I was interested in joining! I was asked to come back the following week for a voice test, hoping to be a baritone, as I love the resonance of that section. I was surprised when Martin told me I was a top tenor, which of course at the time I didn’t believe. But as usual, Mr Hodson was right, and with a few months of practice I was hitting the top notes like a good’un.
How long have you been with our choir, and what are the things which have helped you stay?
I joined the choir in 2008 which means I’ve been with the choir 13 years now. I love the diversity of the repertoire, singing music as varied as Verdi’s Requiem to You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate. The fact that we work hard to be one of the best choirs in the country makes me proud to be a member of this choir. The friendships I’ve made, often with people I wouldn’t normally meet, from all different walks of life, have been very important to me. Also the choir’s flexibility. I was able to take breaks when I was on shift work and when I had a health problem, and the choir did keep in touch to see how I was doing during that time.
What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?
I love the diversity of the languages we sing in, including Welsh, German, French, Italian, Latin, and English, of course, which certainly keeps me on my toes. I do find it a bit of a struggle as my vision is not great, but with the help of a magnifier and my wife typing the words out in large print, I manage OK. I love little ditties like Pan Fo’r Nos Yn Hir by the late great Ryan Davies, from that to great complicated pieces like Bristol Roads by Mervyn Burtch. I do like a challenge, and it feels great to master something like that.
Another of my favourites is Eli Jenkins’ Prayer, from “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas. We performed Verdi’s Requiem with Gwent Chorale for Martin’s retirement as music director of that particular group. It was such a privilege. I have a friend who has a collection of Verdi Requiem recordings, and he said it was as good as any professional recording he had heard.
Have you had any memorable musical moments that gave you pride and satisfaction?
Going on tour with the choir and singing in St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna and the Mariacki Basilica in Krakow – the acoustics sounded as if another choir was singing back at us in Krakow – it was just astounding. Singing on the pitch of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the Wales/South Africa rugby international, which made Shane Williams cry when we sang the National Anthem. It was his last match for Wales – hopefully not our singing, that caused the tears! Also singing at the Thiepval Memorial for the soldiers missing at the Somme, and also the time we sang at Auschwitz. I feel lucky to have been able to honour the heroes and victims of those wars and to bring some peace and beauty to those places which witnessed such horrors. Most important of all to me has been to sing at the funerals of fellow choristers who have since passed, and to have been able to honour them in this way.
Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.
My daughter, Alice, recently gave birth to a little girl, so I am enjoying being a granddad to a new addition to the family at the moment. My wife is a keen follower of Risca Male Choir and has accompanied me on several tours with the choir. She also sings as an alto with Gwent Chorale, although they haven’t yet got back together post-Covid. (Due to start on October 6)
I own a spiritual shop called “Spirit of Awen” in the Ffwrwm in Caerleon, where I sell crystals, incense, jewellery, and Green Man plaques for the garden, which I make and paint myself. Before lockdown I used to close the shop every January and travel to India to source new items for the shop and also take a bit of a holiday in the sun! I’m hoping to get back there again one day.
I am a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and have attended many spiritual retreats and gatherings. We hold seasonal celebrations to mark the Celtic wheel of the year and have also officiated at several druid weddings, known as Handfastings.
I am a member of the Monster Raving Loony Party and stood for election in Islwyn as Baron von Magpie Bum in the 2015 General Election and the 2016 Senedd Election. I even appeared in a party election broadcast which was screened by the BBC across Wales. It was a proud moment when my mother voted for me! I am a member of the Border Urban Morris Side, and have danced at numerous festivals. I am told I have a very fine skip!
A final thought, if you have one
I’d say to anyone thinking of joining our choir that if I can do it, anyone can! I remember coming home after my first few rehearsals, thinking ‘I’ll never be able to do this!’ But with a bit of perseverance and the encouragement of my fellow choristers, accompanists and music directors, I got there eventually! I don’t read music, partly because I can’t see it, so I learn my parts by heart. However this has never caused a problem, and it’s not necessary to have any formal musical training to become a chorister, just determination and dedication.
