Mark Knight-Davis
Section - Tenor 2

How did you come to join Risca Male Choir?

My story starts with a return to choral singing in my early thirties, joining the Dorothy Adams Singers, a mixed choir in Newport (now the Adams Chorale).  My circumstances changed resulting in me stopping for a couple of years. I was keen to start singing again with the ambition of joining a male choir. To build up my confidence and establish my voice I turned to a singing teacher in Newport, the wonderful Irene Livingstone.  Irene helped me significantly and pointed me in the direction of Risca Male Choir. A phone call later to Alan Davis, the secretary at the time, saw me walk through the headquarter doors in early 2011. I can still vividly remember being welcomed by Alan and seeing a sea of faces as I entered the practice room. A voice test with Martin Hodson confirmed a second tenor voice and I was positioned between two very experienced and passionate second tenors Dave Barry and Mike Briggs. I really haven’t looked back since and have thoroughly enjoyed singing again.  

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

The 17th of February 2011 proved to be the start of a significant chapter in my life as that date represents my initial practice session with the choir, so if my maths is correct, it will be 11 years next February.

Staying with the choir sounds easy in theory, however, competing commitments do test your resolve, but I am pleased to say that with the support of my family staying with this great choir is what I have done. Staying as a choir member in my view is the sum of a number of key parts. You have to love and enjoy singing and be prepared to learn and sing a very wide range of music. You must be prepared to be part of the choir and not just for the singing. You must commit your time and effort to be part of your section and part of the choir. You have to make friendships and I am extremely grateful to members of the choir who have welcomed me and drank one, two or many pints with me (It is fair to say I have been led astray on many occasions by the Prince of Wales crew). You must have the support of your family and friends.

What music do you particularly enjoy singing and why?

My answer to this question is any singing that makes me feel happy or brings a tingle in my spine. For this to happen the choir must sing music with control, with precision and importantly with feeling and passion. Over my time with the choir this has happened on many, many occasions but I will list a few that I hope resonates with my fellow choristers and members of the public who have attended our concerts.

Where Shall I be? (Arranged by Bryan Davies) always makes my spine tingle whether we sing it in practice or at a concert. Nella Fantasia (Choral version of Gabriel’s Oboe from the film The Mission by Ennio Morricone) has a wonderful quality to it and when we get it right it really hits the spot for me. Benedictus (the Robat Arwyn version) has stuck with me from the first time I sung it with the choir. I can’t finish this question without listing Y Tangnefeddwyr, (Words by Waldo Williams, music by Eric Jones about the bombing of Swansea in 1941) must be my Swansea Valley roots and O Gymru! a rousing Welsh anthem.

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

I can easily replace “any” memorable moments with “many” memorable moments. Singing at St David’s Cathedral and the Millennium Stadium is high on my list. My family holiday in St David’s most years and when we visit the Cathedral it brings back a wonderful feeling. The opportunity to walk on the hallowed turf of Welsh rugby and sing the national anthem I know has made many rugby friends jealous. Early in my Risca Male Choir career I really enjoyed singing Cruella de Vil (in Disney’s 101 Dalmations) as a barbershop trio at one of our Christmas themed concerts.  To do that in front of my family and friends was a special moment.

As a competitive sportsman our success at a choir competition in Torquay stands out. The intensity of the practice we had to undertake and the performance we delivered at the competition was an example of what this choir has achieved. A memorable moment close to home every year is the Remembrance service. To be able to acknowledge the men and women who gave their lives for us is a unique honour. This honour peaked when we sang at the Menin Gate, Ypres. The setting of the Gate, the silence, and the reason we were there cannot be easily explained but for those of us who were there, we definitely felt it. I would like to finish this section by saying that merely singing with the Risca Male Choir does fill me with pride and satisfaction and I am grateful to have been accepted into the fold.

Tell us briefly about your life outside of choir.

My life focusses on my family and their wellbeing. Supporting my family in their endeavours is hugely important to me and brings significant joy and sometimes sadness but as in one of our songs, it is The Circle of Life.

I play a small part in the NHS physiotherapy service for the people of Gwent, and I remain very privileged to be able to support and help people with their musculoskeletal problems.  I must practice what I preach so I do try and put effort into exercise. The solitude of running helps my health, but I am not fit enough to run and sing at the same time.

A final thought, if you have one

My final thought is a big thank you to the musical team, committee, and choristers, both past and present, who have put the music made by the Risca Male Choir on the map. I am proud to be associated with the Risca Male Choir and I hope this lasts for a long time to come.