Choristers up close - Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan
Section - Baritone

How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?

I have always enjoyed singing from a young age. A big influence on me was my grandfather, Ivor, who was a member of the Garndiffaith Glee Men who were at that time very well respected.

Very often he would start singing, he had a really beautiful deep bass voice, and he loved Paul Robeson. One of his favourite songs was Old Man River. He was also an accomplished accordion player, but sadly I didn’t follow in his footsteps to learn this, as did my cousins.

So from this young age I have liked singing and through school was in choirs and later in a church choir.

Later at about seventeen I joined Cwmbran Male Voice Choir in the tenor section and had some really nice memories of being with them. One occasion was in Coventry in an Old Time Music Hall. While doing the concert and around half way through, we were singing a song Oh Praise the Lord with One Consent and all the audience stood applauding before we had finished! The little hair I had even then, stood up! It was a truly magnificent feeling which stays with me to this day.

Anyway I started to work shifts and also met my wife Susan, so with that did not have time for choir and I left.

Over the years though I’ve always said that as soon as the opportunity arose I would join a choir again.

After many years, the chance came along, and I took the first step to join a choir which was Risca Male Choir and I haven’t looked back.

I am really proud and honoured to tell anyone that I belong to Risca Male Choir.

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

I joined RMC in 2010, in the January along with Phil Sheppard, and after a short voice test was placed in the second tenor section and was sat next to John Lacy who was then my mentor. He along with others, made me most welcome and I settled in quite quickly. I really appreciated John’s experience and he helped me enormously for which I’m eternally grateful.

I stayed with the section for a couple of years but found it increasingly difficult reaching the high notes, so I asked if I could move down to the baritone section and have stayed there to this day.

The camaraderie in the choir is exceptional and I’ve made lifelong friends. My wife Sue also loves the choir and enjoys the concerts and tours and even the socialising with the wives who now are all good friends. Having said this it makes life a lot easier knowing that Sue likes the choir.

Because of my experience within the building trade and DIY, I was asked if I could help out and assist the late Gordon Holley, who at that time was in charge of the overall maintenance of the choir buildings. This I was only too willing to do. I assisted Gordon for a couple of years and we became good friends. Then unfortunately, he had to stand down because of health issues, and sadly, has now passed away. So I took on his role and continue with that today which I enjoy. It’s a bit of a responsibility, but I’m now supported by another chorister, Kevin Lovett, who is great, and we get things done together as and when. There are also a few other choristers who will help out if needed.

We have actually just completed a large project which was to replace fascias/ gutters / soffits and downpipes, and some repairs to our roof. We had to employ a contractor for this work as this was outside our remit. While we had to pay to have scaffolding put up, it was decided to take advantage of this and rub down / repair where necessary and repaint all the windows and doors and front fascias of the building; the transformation is fantastic, thanks to all who took part and helped with this.

What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?

I really enjoy all aspects of singing and try to rise to the challenge of learning new songs, some of which are more challenging than others. However, I do struggle with different languages, especially Welsh I’m ashamed to say, as being a proud Welshman I cannot speak the language, but I sort of get there in the end!

I get a real buzz from singing with RMC and feel very proud and honoured to be a small part of this magnificent choir.

Some of my favourites to sing include Sure on this shining night by American composer Morten Lauridsen. It’s a lovely piece to sing, especially for the baritone section. Another favourite is Anfonaf Angel by Welsh composer, Robat Arwyn, again, it’s very beautiful, as is his setting of the Benedictus. It’s really nice to sing and very moving. I particularly like the Welsh folk songs such as Hiraeth by Alwyn Humphries and the lovely arrangement by Martin Hodson of Ar hyd y nos, also beautiful. I couldn’t go without mentioning the songs from Les Misérables which I absolutely love, and in my opinion we sing very well.

Since joining I’ve made many new friends and from time to time socialise together with our wives. I’m pleased to say some are friends for life.

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

Since joining this magnificent choir, I’ve had many wonderful experiences, either at concerts, or while away on different tours. One in particular was when we toured Austria and Poland, an experience that will stay with us for ever. This was the visit to the extermination camp at Auschwitz where we sang in the execution yard! With some friends we also visited Schindler’s factory in Krakow.

Singing wise, our venues at St Stephens in Vienna and the Mariacki Basilica in Krakow were phenomenal. There were others too which were wonderful, including a trip to the Salt Mines just outside Krakow where we sang a mini concert in the “ Cathedral “ way down in the depths of the mine. It was huge, and all carved out of the salt by hand: the sound really was magical!

This tour actually coincided with our 40th wedding anniversary. It certainly added to the atmosphere and made this even more a special experience.

There was a time a couple of years ago when I was injured and had to sit out the front while at rehearsal. When listening to the sounds that came over to me, I felt so proud knowing that I was a small part in this wonderful choir which is RMC.

 Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.

Mike does more than singing in choir HQ! Here he is getting well and truly plastered helping renovate one of our rooms.

I’ve been married to Sue, my wife, for fifty years and love her as much now as when we met all that time ago.

I’ve had several kinds of employment in my life, from tyre fitting to foundry work! I’ve worked in brick works and at Monsanto Chemicals and Uskmouth Power Station, at Lucas Girling in Pontypool, and on several occasions between these, have been self-employed in the building industry, which I enjoyed. Last though, from age 58 to 65, I worked for Care and Repair while still being self-employed.

We have two children, who we’re very proud of. Gail, our daughter, lives with us and Mark lives in Cwmbran. We also have a granddaughter Chloe, who we cherish. We are very proud of our little family which hasn’t given us any problems whatsoever!

I lead an active life, and have taken part in all kinds of sport. But my real passion years ago was Ki-Aikido a “soft style” martial art in which I’m proud to say, I attained the level 2nd Dan. While practising, I made many friends from all over the country.

It was invigorating, the harder I trained, the better I liked it. Even today, I try to follow some of the principles of the art. One important principle is this – put yourself in your opponent’s place: very wise when getting involved in any arguments by just remembering this. I did this for approximately 17 years.

My sporting interest today is golf and I “attempt” to play about twice a week and enjoy losing my ball! Those who play will understand this!

I also enjoy going to the theatre with Sue and friends and the occasional trip to London to take in a big show, normally as a weekend break.

We both love socialising with good friends some of which are in choir.

A final thought, if you have one.

It was a shame really, that owing to circumstances, I couldn’t join this lovely band of people earlier than I did. When told of stories of the choir’s past tours, I get very jealous, especially the trips to America and the antics that some of the choristers got up to! My dear departed friend Gordon Holley enlightened me on several occasions of what the tour was about, and all that went on: all in good taste I might add!

Still, it is what it is, I’m here now and enjoying every moment. I, like everyone else, am missing our get together at rehearsal during these sad times, but hopefully there’s some light at the end of the tunnel, and before long we may be able to continue where we left off.

So, to all of you my friends please STAY SAFE and we’ll keep singing.