Choristers up close - Gary Harris
Gary Harris
Section - Bass
How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?
I joined Risca Male Choir in 1975 after the late Gerry Pritchard invited me to join after a sing song in The Railway Tavern in Risca. Last year I celebrated 45 years with the choir and proudly received my long service award earlier this year.
I joined as a baritone under the choir’s first conductor, Les James who was very much one of the “old school”! He was followed by Alwyn Humphreys who stayed with us for just 2 years.
I was a committee member under the Chairman Gwyn Tovey, and later I became Vice-Chairman with Gerry Pritchard as Chairman. I was one of those responsible for offering the job of conductor to Martin Hodson in 1979: the best day’s work ever!
How long have you been with our choir, and what are the things which have helped you stay?
So, as I said above, I’ve been with the choir now for 46 years, and from the day that Martin took over as conductor, things just got better and better. I have spent over half my life with the choir and don’t regret one day.
There are many reasons why I’ve stayed so long. I’ve been able to travel a lot with the choir and made many friends outside of the choir on those tours. The many countries visited include Germany, Spain, many parts of the UK and America. The only tour I think I missed was the one to Poland and Austria as I was unwell.
When visiting Germany, I flew in a two-seater sports plane and was even given the chance to pilot it! But I wasn’t allowed to land it!
What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?
I love music although I can’t read it. Over the years I’ve learned to follow the score quite well.
The variety of music that we’ve learned under Martin’s tuition has been exceptional. One of my favourites is The Last Words of David by American composer, Randall Thompson, and also Martin’s arrangement of Plaisir d’Amour which the choir sang at my late wife’s funeral.
I enjoy our Welsh items, but find them the hardest to learn
Have you had any memorable musical moments that gave you pride and satisfaction?
During my long service, I’ve sung in some amazing buildings, varied and great! My first big one was at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the festival of 1000 male voices. But even that paled into insignificance with the ones that followed. These included the British Embassy in Paris, and the magnificent Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Another highlight of the California tours was the visit to Yosemite National Park, and also singing in the famous Carmel Mission. And that has made me think of another memorable venue, The Maltings in Snape, East Anglia, where we sang on the stage where so many famous musicians had performed.
Of course, the Eisteddfods were great experiences, especially when we won! There were many other competitions with the most recent, The Battle of the Choirs in Torquay which we won in grand style, singing in many different languages.
Talking of which, I remember when we were recording in the Brangwyn Hall with Bryn Terfel for the album We’ll Keep a Welcome, the sound engineer suddenly appeared and said “Who’s the idiot with the watch alarm?” Bryn said “Sorry!”
There have been so many memorable occasions that it’s hard to recall them all just now.
Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.
I was in the army for two years on National Service, and spent most of that time in the jungle in North Johor, Malaya, an experience never to be forgotten!
I came home in 1957 and worked on the family milk round for a few years. Later, I started a haulage business transporting from local quarries. Later again, I diversified into skip hire, a job that lasted for 40 years!
I retired 23 years ago counting my main hobbies now as choir and bowls. I played rugby when I was in the army and also for Crosskeys. I was good at distance running during my time in the forces and even won a cup for coming first in a cross country run in Brecon!
But it’s music that occupies my time at the moment, and is a big part of my life. It’s something that my children, and indeed my late wife, encouraged me to pursue. I have a daughter who is a doctor and a son who was president of an oil company in Houston, Texas. With them, I have 4 grandchildren, 2 boys and 2 girls all doing well, and of whom I am really proud.
A final thought, if you have one
The choir is like an extension of the family for me, much like the camaraderie I experienced in the army where each person looked out for the other. I shall continue to be a part of this choir for as long as I’m able.
I look forward to the future with our conductor, Tomos, who has very much the same ideas and passion that Martin had. Music is something I love, and I wish I could have learned to play an instrument earlier in life. Having said that, 46 years singing with this great choir is a pretty good achievement.
