Over the decades, Risca Male Choir has been involved in some amazing music projects, and they can be read about throughout this website. But the project that was initiated by Music Director Matt Harrison, and with Project Leader, Tim Stone and his team, was to become the biggest ever in the history of the choir. Its nature was unique, in that it served a twofold purpose: firstly to raise funds for a chosen charity, and secondly to offer an opportunity for recruitment.

The chosen charity was the Motor Neurone Disease Association. MND over recent times had become a topical subject, mainly through the work of the BBC featuring rugby league star, Rob Burrow and his Leeds Rhinos friend, Kevin Sinfield, now coach with the England Rugby Union team.

The recruitment drive was to form a new choir of men that would work for 12 weeks learning to sing as an ensemble and produce items for a grand concert to be given on May 18, 2024.

A preconcert article was written by Tim Stone, and appeared on the website previously. Now, the process and the concert have been accomplished, and it would be fitting to follow that time with some features, photos, videos and other reactions from some of the people involved.

Following this introduction is the first blog, written by one of the new choristers. It starts what will be regular additions over the next few weeks that we hope will inform and entertain, as we all reflect on what has been a magnificent achievement. All the blogs will appear on our Facebook page, and we would welcome your thoughts, particularly if you were at the concert.

Martin Hodson MBE, Music Director Emeritus

# 1        MND CHOIR - some thoughts from a chorister

It’s 18th May, 2024. I find myself singing with a group of men along with the Risca Male Choir at a packed house in Newport. Not something I had done before.

Rewind to December, 2023 – usual Saturday shop at Tesco, Pontymister, prior to Christmas. Probably trying to stick to my shopping list, and failing. A routine sort of morning.

A choir strikes up. I take no particular notice, but hear some festive songs, get to the checkout, pack and prepare to leave the store. Job done. Nothing else on my mind.

As I reach the exit, I’m approached along with other shoppers to donate to the choir, which turns out to be Risca Male Choir. I haven’t cash on me but a lady with the card reader is summoned – turns out to be Olga, with whom I’d worked some years earlier: Then Trevor turns up – a chorister, and someone I knew in my teenage years.

So we chat together, and it’s explained to me that a new venture is planned for 2024.

I understand that the choir is hoping to recruit up to 50 men, without prior choral experience, to create a choir aimed at raising money for charity. That group, if recruited, would rehearse from February onwards and give a public performance in early summer.

For whatever reason, probably seasonal bonhomie, I said I’d sign up for it. I was given a card with the name Tim Stone on it. I called and he said I’d receive more information in the New Year.

Sure enough, in early February, I think, I got an email explaining more, and a form to complete. The charity was to be the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDa), and the choir ‘Men Do Sing, or MND, an acronym clearly deriving from the charity title. An extremely worthwhile cause.

This is the point where you take a reality check, especially when presented with a list of rehearsal dates, plus an invite to a Risca Male Choir event as an opener. What have I signed up to?

First rehearsal 25th February. Great welcome. Realise you know some of the others who’ve turned up. Some very well, others more vaguely, and most not at all. But it’s a friendly atmosphere, some banter and bravado to settle any nerves, and we’re quickly into singing – not whole songs as you might expect - but the Music Director, Matt, takes us into the start of a 12 week or so process. It begins with a rapid, and a somewhat sorting into various sections from bass through to top tenors.

So we have dates and a repertoire of three songs. We hopefully know by now what voice we each have. We also have an app for communicating and to help us rehearse. I guess we are all a little bit excited to start, but not altogether clear how we’ll cope with this new challenge. There are over 40 of us rookies, aided by mentors from the main choir who sit and perform with us, and help immensely.

By now, you either commit, or leave. I think just about everyone committed. A good sign.

Weekly rehearsals on Sunday afternoons become part of life. You realise that Matt’s modus operandi is what goes. You get used to warm-ups, learning parts of songs from the repertoire, not necessarily as a whole, ‘constructive criticism’ and encouragement. It’s a combination of instruction, persuasion, attention both to principles and detail, and is disciplined. You listen, you try things, you learn. And you can manage a whole song, then another, and so on.

By the end of April we had rehearsed 10 times. Two more, and we would be performing in public. The commitment from everyone involved in managing, teaching, preparing, and giving us the confidence needed as beginners was immense. Without that support nothing would have happened.

By now every member of the MND choir and mentors were also busy raising money through donations to put into research on Motor Neurone Disease, and the venue for our performance was Rougemont School in Newport.

So back to where I started – 18th May, 2024…….

The MND choir, with Risca Male Choir, the Cwmbran Deaf Choir, and accompanists performed to a full house at Rougemont. Being part of that event was a real high. A few nerves beforehand, but once you’re on stage, away you go.

All of the hard work (and some fun) week in week out pays off. Everyone singing as they had been tutored, but in front of an audience which gives that little extra if you are performing.

It’s been a different, interesting, and ultimately, exciting journey. Friends have been made. For those who want to, the opportunity of carrying on as a chorister beckons, and in terms of sustaining a Welsh cultural tradition into the future that can only be a good thing.

And it’s also raised a significant amount for the MND research so urgently need. (Currently £18,500)

Would I do it Again?

Definitely!

David Hopkins – 2nd tenor, MND Choir

Photos by Cllr. Bob Owen. (Title image)

Jennifer Burgos: SE Wales MNDA Branch Chair. (Rehearsal)