Choristers up close - David (George) Morgan
David (George) Morgan
Section - Baritone
How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?
In December 1986 I was enjoying a Christmas sing-song in the company of well-known character, Paul Salathiel, at the Queens Hotel in Blaina who suggested I should join the choir. I knew Paul was a member of RMC and agreed to join up after the choir returned from its 1987 first American tour to California. My first visit to the choir involved observing in practice for the first half and then actually joining in for the remainder.
How long have you been with our choir, and what are the things which have helped you stay?
I joined up in May 1987 and have recently completed thirty-four continuous years of service. People know I live a distance away, formerly in Blaina and now in Gilwern. But despite the travelling, I enjoy immensely practising my music and the fellowship of the choristers. At my first practice I was warmly welcomed by Gerry Pritchard and Doug Prout, now sadly departed, and at half-time was told by Martin to sit between his brother Roger and Gerry in the front row, a favoured place of mine!
My commitment is kept going through the variety of music we sing, both classical and popular and the perfection we aim to achieve. I love that our practices are driven by our concert repertoire and that in normal times we have dates in our diary for concerts, competitions and tours, making practice both enjoyable and very focussed. I am very proud of being a member of RMC, it has provided me with life-long friendships and the opportunity to be a member of a distinguished choir.
What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?
I’ve been fortunate to have been born into a music-loving family and during my early years was encouraged with piano lessons and learned to read music. This, for me, was the foundation for enjoying all types of music.
Joining the choir, exposed me to a full repertoire from Disney classics to complex choral works. This huge variety of music really has made me realise that challenging yourself can be hugely rewarding and fun.
I particularly enjoy singing choral music involving all parts of the choir. The Prisoners’ Chorus (O! Welche Lust) from Fidelio (Beethoven), was one of the first pieces I learned and has a lovely combination of soloists and chorus. Similarly, The last words of David (Randall Thompson), is another favourite because it brings in the four parts of the choir as well as a wonderful piano accompaniment, and, the Alleluias at the conclusion are spine tingling. The Lord’s Prayer (Malotte) is another favourite example of this style where the performance steadily builds to a crescendo.
Joshua (arr by Martin Hodson) is another good illustration where all parts of the choir are engaged. In particular, I enjoy the tempo and the way it shows off the versatility of the choir.
Have you had any memorable musical moments that gave you pride and satisfaction?
It’s hard to pick out particular moments. There’s been so many, over the last thirty-four years with opportunities to travel not only in the UK but to Europe and the USA. I recall a concert in Edinburgh at St Cuthbert’s church we sang the three verses of Flower of Scotland to a capacity audience of a few hundred people. It began with a gentle tapping of feet and by the final verse had risen to a crescendo, followed by a spontaneous standing ovation. When we won the National Eisteddfod in 1988 in Newport, one of the test pieces was the Hungarian Folk Song Dana!Dana! The musical precision and perfection of the choir’s performance was unbelievable. On that occasion, Risca Male Choir was awarded one of the highest marks ever given to a competing male choir.
There are sombre and haunting memories too. At Auschwitz, we had been invited to sing Prayer of the Children at the execution wall, and this proved to be a highly emotional experience. And, during our most recent tour to Northern France and Belgium, our performance at the Menin Gate felt like a long overdue tribute to my grandfathers who fought at Ypres and at the Somme.
Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.
George took part in the Welsh Velathon, an 87-mile cycle challenge.
My birth name is David, but I’m always known as George. It all started when I was about eight. Local school friends started calling me Dai Morgan, which I didn’t like, and said as much! A couple of best mates asked what I’d like to be called and they asked me what my grandfather’s name was: and so George was born!
Ironically, when I was born there had been a debate between mam and dad about calling me George, but mam wanted a good Biblical name, and won! She should have settled on George in the first place!
I work for Coleg Gwent on the Usk Campus working on the Inspire 2 Achieve project tutoring students academically and supporting them with pastoral care. It’s a demanding role and has been particularly hard during the pandemic. One of my career ambitions was to work in education and at the age of thirty-two, I started my journey by enrolling at night school. This whetted my appetite to continue with my studies and I began a full-time university degree at the age of forty. It was a daring move but gave me a completely different career path and I’m so glad I took the plunge!
I met my lovely wife Sue via work. She was the Finance/Quality Manager and pulled me up on my late expenses, apparently, it was causing chaos with the year-end accounts! Anyway we got over the dodgy start, I persuaded her to come South and we married six years ago. Sue loves following the choir, is a keen yoga practitioner, loves to garden and is an active member of Abergavenny Floral Art.
Aside from my studies I have always enjoyed sport especially cricket and rugby and was in the Welsh Districts squad. Although I’m now an armchair spectator, I am very proud to say I played for both Blaina and Nantyglo.In the late nineties, keen to keep myself fit, I bought my first mountain bike. This has led to a new fitness passion and in the last four years, I’ve ridden in a number of sportives up and down Wales, including the Welsh Velathon and Tour de Mon. When I’m not out on the road, I can be found in the shed on my turbo trainer, and despite lockdowns, I managed to complete a 5,000-mile challenge last year, without leaving Gilwern!
A final thought, if you have one
The choir has most definitely enriched my life through musical enjoyment and lifelong friendships. The pandemic has stretched us, but thankfully, through the hardwork of people like fellow baritone, Chris Denham, we have managed to chart a way to keep in touch. I’m looking forward to a time when we can meet up for practice in a more familiar way. I would encourage anyone who enjoys being part of a team environment to have a long think about joining the choir. You don’t have to have an exceptional voice or be able to read music, just a desire to be part of something special, like Risca Male Choir!
