Choristers up close - Trevor Baker

Trevor Baker
Section - Bass

How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?

Just after I started a job in Alcan, I got to work with John Allen who had been in the choir for a number of years. He asked me if I was interested in joining. I had a young family at the time and also had other hobbies. But he persuaded me to come to the annual concert that year which I must say I enjoyed immensely. I already knew the choir’s MD, Martin, and was friends with his brother Roger who was also in the choir at that time. I had a long think about it and decided I would give it a try in the New Year (1983) and see how it goes. Well nearly forty years on and I’m still here!

A little time after joining the choir I was working with Howard Morgan (Mog) who had previously been in the choir and persuaded him to re-join. That was the start of our (beautiful?) friendship.

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

As I said, I’ve been in the choir for nearly forty years, and in that time I’ve made lifelong friends, some sadly no longer with us. Friends who are there for good and bad times, there's always someone who will help you if you need it. The camaraderie is second to none and it's not always serious, although the MD would like it to be. The concert tours all over Europe, the three tours to America, the concert tours in this country from Cornwall to Scotland have all been great.

What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?

I can't say I dislike any of the music we learn! I really enjoy tackling the big stuff we get to sing, for instance the Cherubini Requiem, Beethoven's Choral Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem, the recording we did with Bryn Terfel and also singing with him at St David’s Hall in the Beethoven already mentioned. The eisteddfod music was quite challenging but made better by winning!

The Christmas shows make a pleasant change from our regular concert music. I even enjoyed the old ‘war horse’ songs we used to sing in the past.

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

Well, having been in the choir for a long time, it would be impossible not to have great memoires.

These include, the 1988 National Eisteddfod in Newport (which we won), the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, and the Malta international Choral Festival. The annual concert always gives me great satisfaction and the one that stands out for me was in the year 2000 when the international bass Sir Willard White was our guest artist. It happened to be on my birthday, and after the concert in the bar, someone mentioned it was my birthday and Sir Willard came over and sang happy birthday to me! New York Met one week, Risca Leisure Centre the next!

Singing Prayer of the children in the Auschwitz death camp made a lasting impression on me and a lot of other people as well.

 Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.

Well, I’ve now been retired for some nineteen years, and apart from a few part time jobs (one with Mog, white van man), I love my holidays. Cycling has been a hobby most of my life, and I have enjoyed some great holidays all over Europe.  I’ve done a few cruises, and particularly loved the Caribbean one. It's been a bit restrictive since Covid, but I’m looking forward to many more when the pandemic is all over.

I’ve been doing lots of model engineering over the last few months. I got myself a lathe and a new milling machine; work in progress. Family is a big part of my life having been married for fifty-three years to Kath. We have two sons, two daughters in law and four fantastic grandchildren. I still do quite a bit of photography and lots of the choir photos are taken by me. I often get asked the question “Why are you not in the choir photos again Trev, where were you?”

A final thought, if you have one.

Well, I’m really missing the choir during this pandemic, and can't wait to get back to normal and back to what we all love to do, SINGING. I love to see new choristers join the choir, especially young ones. When we get someone new join, I get a nudge from Mog, “Another one to sing at the funeral Trev!”

I’ve got lots of stories to tell new choristers, but first you have to join, and the hardest part is walking through the front door.

And so, the circle of life of the choir goes around.