Music Director’s Review from June 2023

A busy month indeed for RMC…

A number of the choir started their month with a little tour to Chester… not much happened. It was a very safe and relaxing affair in all.

Later in the month we celebrated our annual patrons’ concert with the theme of “Meet Matt” and despite being on rocky ground for a week and a bit before due to ill health on my part, I’m happy to say that the concert went ahead and even the lack of practice time didn’t impact on the success of the evening.

The choir were on top form (apart from one little mishap that we won’t mention) and treated the audience to some of my favourite pieces and helped me take the audience through a type of “this is your life” segment on my beginnings in the Male Choir world.

Alongside this, accompanied by Martin, I played some of my favourite pieces to perform on the Saxophone and Bassoon including some pieces by American composer Paul Creston, and German 19th century composer, Weber. Later we were joined by Henley Cegielski who performed the tenor aria, Una furtiva lagrima brilliantly, and alongside Martin accompanying again, I played the bassoon cues from the opera score.

We even had time for me to improvise on a theme and style chosen by the audience. A first for me playing Row Row Row your boat as a piece of Soul Jazz, but I think it worked and the audience seemed to enjoy it.

In all, despite feeling run down and worried about my lack of practice I think it was an enjoyable evening and really great to have sold too many tickets to accommodate everyone at our usual venue.

Special thanks to Robin Grayson our patrons’ administrator, who did a smashing job, and I’m sure will continue to grow and develop our important relationship with the choir’s patrons.

Also to Martin our amazing emeritus conductor who did a stellar job performing some difficult accompaniment and for his time rehearsing with both myself and Henley, who also performed beautifully.

And as ever to Alison and the gents who were amazing as they always are.

Right, as you’ve made it this far and everyone else is gone, I can briefly tell you about our tour now.

Highlights include -

. Two amazing concerts. One where I called our audience from the Wirral, Liverpudlians and nearly got us all lynched on the second night of tour. And one where we raised over £1,300 for charity.

Also at our second concert we were gifted with the rare occurrence of three conductors past and present of Risca Male Choir being at the same venue. Myself and emeritus conductor Martin, were joined by previous conductor Tomos Gwyn and his fiancée Emily, for our Chester Rotary Concert.

. Lovely hotel. Loved the pool, made use of the gym and it was less than a 5 minute walk into the centre of Chester which is a stunning city.

. Far too many blurry nights out. Even Mrs Chairman (Lyn Phillips) was heading for a night out with us all at 1 in the morning whilst feigning a protest saying “I’ve never been out this late in my life”. And there was me thinking it was too early.

Half the choir made a new drag queen friend called “Shagger” in Chester’s one and only gay bar, the Liverpool Arms. I was shocked to say the least when Trevor Baker begged us all to go in with him but now I know why he left his dear wife Kath at home. I was also upset when nobody would do karaoke or dance with me other than Judith Cegielski and Steve Griffiths, who at least entertained me and tried.

. Nearly getting us and half the Freemasons’ convention kicked out of the hotel at 4 am for singing in the hotel bar. I didn’t think we were that bad.

Also as a side note here I’d like to mention that our accompanist Alison and her husband Geraint who both play for brass bands and who joined us on the trips and many a night out, remarked that the choir drinks way more than any brass band they’ve been out with. This is either a death sentence or an achievement, I can’t decide. Probably both.

. The choir groupies. By the end of the trip I had all the wives of the choir well trained on when to clap and more importantly when to shout for an encore. Well done ladies keep up the good work!

. Becoming an Honorary member of the Hodson Dynasty.

Not only was I treated to a lovely Italian meal with Martin accompanied by Cliff Edwards and his wife Paula, but Martin also joked at the end of the evening that it was nice to take his adopted grandson out for a meal. This was later set in stone after I was repeatedly introduced as Matthew Hodson at the concert the following evening!! Not that I’m complaining, there’s no musical talent anywhere else in my family so why not?

Special thanks must go to our soloist Andy Jenkins for his always polished and engaging performances. Martin for his brilliant accompaniments. Alison for her usual talents but also for smashing out some amazing multitasking percussion skills playing about 400 different instruments with every limb she had available.

To the incredible Alan Davis who organised one hell of a weekend impeccably, which must have been a mammoth task. You’d be hard pushed to find a little grumble let anything to complain about.

I’m already more than excited to see what he pulls out of the bag for next time. 10/10 sir.

And of course to all the gents at RMC.

I usually banter the gents relentlessly not only in rehearsals but in concerts, and while away on tour they couldn’t escape it. But I have to say they really are an amazing group of people, both them and their partners. They’re a close knit sociable group who all look out for each other and know how to have a good time.

The performances at both our concerts were inspiring to say the least, and having only around 2/3 of their usual number didn’t seem to make much difference to the energy and style in which they performed. I take my hat off to you gents you did yourselves and RMC proud.

And on a final thought: yes, we all enjoy what we’re doing and love being part of the choir for ourselves. But sometimes we don’t think about the impact of what we do, seemingly for fun, has on other people.

Whilst at the “Aprés” on our final night, myself and Alan Davis happened to bump into a man who seemed a little emotional to say the least. After chatting to him for a little while he opened up to us and explained that he had terminal cancer and didn’t have long left. This was to be his last ever trip to Chester. He could barely talk but through the emotion managed to tell us that our rendition of You’ll never walk alone in the pub that night, was the highlight of his year and made his last trip Chester the most special he could imagine.

All in all I think you could count Chester as a success.

Oh and did I mention the best part? I wasn’t able to buy a single drink for myself the entire weekend!

Over and out,

MJH

Music Director - Matthew Harrison