After an enjoyable St David’s concert on March the 1st the gents and Alison were straight back into rehearsals the following evening. The footage from our live streamed rehearsals is now being reviewed by a large proportion of the choir and serves as a really useful extra resource for choristers to use alongside our weekly practice sessions. 

It’s also great for me as a conductor to see the evidence of progression and even better to hear that others watching the footage are commenting on the standard of the music before and after we rehearse it. 

Alongside our St David’s Day concert this month the gents turned out in force to celebrate the life of one of Risca Male Choirs biggest fans, Ryan Williams. Hundreds of people gathered outside on the street and inside St Mary’s Church, all in odd socks which Ryan would have loved. (First and last time I will probably see stage manager Leigh tucker not have anything to say about the choirs concert dress code). 

With Martin at the piano the choir performed You raise me up and Candle on the water, two of Ryan’s favourites, alongside Calon Lân to a church filled to capacity of people who Ryan had so clearly touched throughout his life.

The depth of repertoire that this choir retains and is able to offer at any performance big or small, is something that still astonishes me. After only being here for 5 months in total, I’ve already conducted well over 40 pieces of music in public with them and the standard of these pieces has been pretty admirable. And though few on the day, due to many members having work commitments, still made a fantastic sound and did Ryan and his family proud. 

In preparation for our Eistedfodd appearance we will be recording a full performance of our three competition pieces at the end of every month as practice and then also to review as a group further down the line. The first run through of this will be on April 2nd with the next one taking place on the 4th of May. (And I hope for their sake the gents are reading this, panicking slightly, and looking over their music as we speak) 

It’s been great to see some new members join this month and also some prospective new members pulled in from our social nights especially in the more, shall we say, rare sections of the choir such as the Top Tenors. As ever, if anyone is reading this and has thought about joining but has put it off for whatever reason, you couldn’t pick a better time to come along to see if it’s your bag. 

And finally, either the boys think I’ve got a problem or that I need a drink after spending 2 hours with them on the regs, but this month my little conductor’s podium has been hiding 5 bottles of red wine and two lovely looking vintage ciders that have been “donated” (for emergencies more than anything) to myself. But to all the challenge 21 Easter Bunnies who’ve donated a bottle to me I thank you very much, you know who are. 

Matthew Harrison
March 2023