Choristers up close - Chris Halford
Chris Halford
Section - Baritone
How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?
I joined Risca Male Choir by chance really. I was asked to help steward a sponsored walk event to raise money for Guide Dogs that was being organised by Christine Davies (wife of Chris Davies – Treasurer) which my fiancé (now wife) Judith was taking part in.
During the walk I met Chris Davies and he told me about the choir and that they were a great bunch of people, about all the things they were doing and how he enjoyed being part of it all. He said that I could come along to a practice any Thursday or Sunday night to see what it was like for myself and maybe I might be interested in joining as they were always looking for new members.
When I went along to the practice session, I just listened for the first half and was then invited to give it a go after the break sitting in the front row next to Gerry Pritchard. Gerry was very friendly, helpful, and made me feel very welcome. There started a friendship that has lasted ever since.
How long have you been with our choir, and what are the things which have helped you stay?
I have been in the choir since April 1992 (29 Years).
After a short time during my probation next to Gerry Pritchard I was let loose in the back rows of the Baritone section. I felt at home almost immediately with stalwarts of the back rows like Trevor Everson, Gordon Holley and Steve Wiltshire taking me under their collective wing. It was a steep learning curve at first as I did not know any of the repertoire and I could not read music either but making every effort that I could to catch up I found plenty of help was forthcoming.
Inevitably, over 29 years pressures of work and family life have periodically dictated what and when I could attend practices and events and at times this did lessen the overall enjoyment of the singing as I felt that I was forever playing catch up but through everything the feeling that I did not want to let down my friends and fellow choristers is what has kept me going.
The friendship and comradery are what has helped me stay in RMC for all these years. The strong feeling of belonging to something that was bigger than any of us but that was nothing unless we stuck together.
What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?
Surprisingly as I am not a linguist by any stretch of the imagination I really enjoy singing in German and Italian as somehow, I seem to be able to get my head around it phonetically. Welsh is by far the most difficult for me to learn but when it finally sinks in, I feel a real sense of accomplishment and the more I sing it the more I enjoy it, “Tydi a Roddaist” being my personal Welsh favourite. The various themes of Christmas concerts are a welcome change from the more traditional repertoire and I really enjoy singing the lighter pieces.
Have you had any memorable musical moments that gave you pride and satisfaction?
My first stand out moment for me after joining the choir was singing in the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen and the feeling of immense satisfaction at the end of “The Last words of David” that really made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck – it was amazing, I was hooked.
Tours have also provided many memorable moments with the opportunity to sing in marvellous venues like Grace Cathedral in San Francisco during the America tour in 1996 but there have also been moments of great pride and satisfaction when we as a choir have just turned up and sang together whether planned or not. Whether it be happier times, like being in a square in Cesky Krumlov (Czechoslovakia) singing Myfanwy to a Welsh ex-pat who just happened to be in the square, or more sombre times such as singing in Auschwitz or at the Menin Gate. These are all moments that will live long in my memory.
Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.
There are two special women in my life, my wife Judith to whom I have been married for over 28 years and our grown-up daughter Tessa who has finally flown the nest – but not too far as her house in only a stone’s throw from our back door. I may have wanted this to happen but now she has a house of her own I spend a fair bit of any spare time I have trying to cross items off her jobs to-do list whilst trying to keep my wife happy by doing some of her list too - but that is what fathers are for.
I have spent over 25 Years of my working life as an Engineer in the electronics industry working for AB Electronics, AB Automotive, Aiwa and Panasonic to name but a few of the better-known companies. However, in 2009 after being made redundant from yet another electronics company shutting down and moving their manufacturing to the Far East I retrained and started to move away from electronics. I subsequently spent just over 3 years working at the Royal Mint in the commemorative coins & medals section and was proud to be part of the team involved in the Olympic medal project for the 2012 London Olympics.
Since 2013 I have been developing a career in Logistics and I am currently a warehouse manager dealing with large format bulk paper and supplies for a group of printing companies based in Wales, England, and Scotland.
A final thought, if you have one.
Inevitably there have been many choristers join and leave the choir since I joined, and some sadly are no longer with us but what I first heard about this choir many years ago has been proven to be correct, it is made up of a great bunch of blokes who enjoy singing and having a great time doing it. I have made many friends in this choir, had some great times, and my life has been the richer for it.
Risca Male Choir has been a large part of my life for 29 years now and my long-suffering wife has allowed me to continue enjoying it for all that time though thick and thin. She even allowed me to sing in the Christmas concert on the night of our wedding in December 1992 which says it all really, I am a lucky man.
