Chris Denham
Section - Baritone

How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?

There were three specific influences that led me to join RMC.  Firstly, my wife had seen a few Christmas shows and mentioned on several occasions that I might enjoy singing with them.  I have often wondered whether her motivation was more to stop me singing solo in the house.  Then, just after Christmas one year, I fell into conversation with baritone George Morgan at the college where I worked. 

Once he knew of my interest, he piled on the encouragement and I agreed to pop along on a Thursday evening to watch the choir practise. As I walked from my car to the practice rooms, I was welcomed so enthusiastically by choristers that I was made to feel right at home.  My intention was to watch, leave and then mull it over for a few weeks, but during the break I was invited to do a short voice test and found myself joining the baritones for the second half.  

How long have you been with our choir, and what are the things which have helped you stay?

I joined RMC in January 2013. As my first musical experience with the choir included pieces for a competition, the following few weeks did have me wondering what on earth I thought I was doing.  I think the very first piece was Evviva! Beviam! (from the opera Ernani by Verdi) not an easy piece for a beginner, especially as it was being sung in Italian!

What kept me returning for the first few weeks was the support I had from fellow baritones Gerry (Pritchard) and Andrew (Jenkins) in the front row.  Their experience and kindness made it so much easier.

I found that very quickly, attending practice twice a week became an excellent stressbuster.  The focus required to follow the music and the very act of singing always left me feeling uplifted after a busy day in work.

Over the years, the friendship and camaraderie with other choristers has made leaving the choir out of the question.  Continued encouragement from people like fellow baritones Gordon (Holley) and Chris (Halford) as well as the laughter created by our ‘band of brothers’ make being part of RMC a joy.

What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?

The variety of music that RMC sings really makes for a challenging and interesting experience.  Even the pieces that I have disliked at the outset, have often turned out to be enjoyable numbers once I have understood them.

Generally, my musical preferences tend to be in the popular vein, so pieces like Anthem, Danny Boy and Anfonaf Angel fit the bill.  I also love the songs from the shows, but then, who doesn’t?

A bigger surprise for me has been my growing love for some of the Welsh language pieces.  While I find many of the pronunciations a challenge, songs like Y Tangnefeddwyr and Hiraeth can make me feel a real sense of Welsh pride… and I’m English!

Have you had any memorable musical moments that gave you pride and satisfaction?

It is always a joy to sing well, whether in the grandeur of a venue like St David’s Cathedral, or a Christmas sing-a-long over at the Top Club. I have enjoyed the few tours that I have so far joined.  Singing at the Menin Gate in Ypres was a truly emotional experience.  But for me, the event that sits most firmly in my memory is the evening we sang for the late Gordon Holley from his garden.  A real honour to sing for one of our own.

Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.

I have spent most of my career teaching within Coleg Gwent and now work on a Welsh Government project.  I also play guitar – badly, but with great enthusiasm.  I am blessed with an amazing family, including two busy grandchildren.

Since my children have grown up, my wife Judy and I have started to spread our wings to see the world.  We have been lucky enough to join group tours of countries like Peru, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica.  The highlights have included swimming with whale sharks and manta rays in the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives and visiting the wonderful Machu Picchu in Peru.  The pandemic has put a stop to such adventures, but we are finding lots of places to explore in our own Wales.

When I am not travelling, working or singing, I am often to be found in the garden, cleaning out my koi pond or serenading the fish with my guitar.  They are about the only audience that can’t escape!

A final thought, if you have one

Singing in a choir has brought me a great deal of satisfaction and joy.  For anyone who thinks they would like to try it for themselves, I would say this: as RMC gradually gets back to practice following the extended restrictions, we will all be starting again, almost from scratch.  This is the ideal time to be joining us and will allow you to learn as we relearn the wonderful music of RMC.