In a remarkable few weeks the choir has recruited an unprecedented FIVE new choristers since the beginning of September and we also welcome the return of a top tenor to our ranks. This increase brings the recruitment of new members since the Annual Concert to TEN, nearly two a month! Last Monday, two of these, baritones Chris Richards and Darren Lloyd who both joined in June, passed their second voice tests to be welcomed as full members of the choir. Congratulations to you both.
First of the recent newcomers to walk through the door was Canadian Andy Friedman (he now lives in Caldicot) who saw our poster advertising the Gala Concert and intrigued, popped into the Choir Hall to see what went on. So amazed was he by his welcome and the sound he heard that he asked a few questions and did his first voice test. He was classed by Siân to be a potential top tenor but after a little while Andy decided that he was more suited to the 2nd tenors. Good choice Andy.
Andy was followed by Mark Antell who after a long period of persuasion joins his three brothers, John, Nigel and Nick who were already in the choir. Although the three brothers are top tenors, Mark’s voice range is that of a baritone. The brothers are suggesting he undergoes a DNA test but from his similarity in looks we don’t think this is necessary. We believe that we are the only male voice choir in Wales to have four brothers simultaneously as choristers in the choir.
Then in walked Bob Hillier from Newport who is the brother of choristers Mark Stocker’s partner Denise and John MacCarthur’s wife, Kath. Bob joins the ranks of the top tenors. A couple of weeks ago in walked Peter Fagan who went through his voice test in the back room and emerged too swell the ranks of the bottom basses .We were delighted that secretary Jeff Williams persuaded fellow town councillor Oliver (Ollie) Edwards to come and listen. He immediately went into the back room and like so many before him, went up and down the scales to be classified as a bottom base.
Finally choristers were delighted that after an absence of about three years, top tenor Kevin Bajjada walked through the door to rejoin the choir. Welcome back Kevin, good to see you again.
These new recruits and the return of Kevin have now raised the number of choristers to an almost all time high of NINETY and it is certainly the highest number for nearly 30 years.
Since the start of 2013 the choir has recruited a total of 41 choristers of whom 37 are still with us. In that time although a few have moved out of the area, retired or sadly passed away, the choir has grown from about 60 members to 90. In times of reported declines in male voice choir numbers, this choir can be proud of its achievement of encouraging and retaining new members but needs the support of all its choristers to keep this going. At this rate we’ll reach a hundred members by our next Annual Concert. Let’s hope so.
Recently joined chorister Stuart Parry put the following on Facebook this week and I quote:
‘There’s something about being in a choir. I’m sure most of us remember being part of something, be it a rugby or football team or the same workplace or even an army regiment. We all worked as part of a team relying on each other and in turn being relied upon ourselves. This choir seems to bring that feeling back, the work ethic, the pride in doing a job well, the pure enjoyment of making a lovely sound together and for a lot of us, the social life that goes with it all. It’s a great thing to focus upon and enjoy every minute of it too!’
You’ve hit the nail on the head, well said Stuart!