Paul Harrison has been a committed and energetic member of the choir since he joined in 1989. Here is his choir profile
Paul Harrison
A long serving committee man, he has been chairman five or six times. Interspersed with periods as vice–chairman.
At this years 2016 AGM, he was again elected vice-chairman.
Paul Harrison Choir Highlights
1,000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall
His first ‘1,000 Voices Concert’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London was, in his own phrase, “a fantastic experience”.
Choir Recordings
Paul influenced the choir to make its three recordings. Organising each one was hard but enjoyable and rewarding work.
BBC Millennium Broadcast
The choir performing live on BBC television on Millennium Eve 2000 was a special occasion.
Paul recalls: “We were broadcast worldwide singing Dylan Thomas’ ‘Sunset Poem’ in St Asaph.
Watching the YouTube recording now brings back wonderful memories of the occasion. It’s also sad to see how many of the choristers are no longer with us.”
Choir 25th Anniversary Gala Concert
Paul as chairman helped to organise the choir’s 25th Anniversary Concert. This took place at St Asph Cathedral in 2013.
Rhys Meirion and Annette Bryn Parry were the principal guest artistes. It took a lot of effort but it was a memorable concert for the choir.
It also made a decent profit for choir funds.
Choir Website
The creation of the new choir website (www.denbighchoir.com) was also developed under Paul’s chairmanship. Linked to our Facebook and Twitter accounts the website has been a great success. It has improved the choir’s public image.
Paul Harrison Formative Years
Paul was born and bred in Mold, Flintshire. He attended Ysgol Glanrafon Infants and then Ysgol Bryn Coch, Junior School.
He attended Sunday School in St Mary’s Parish Church and joined the church choir.
The Choir Master and Organist was Kenneth Brown. He assisted Paul to pass all Royal School of Church Music examinations.
Paul was Head Chorister of the choir for two years before he left at 15 years of age.
Paul’s secondary education was at Mold Alun Grammar School.
His first music teacher there was none other than Brian Hughes from Rhos, Wrexham!
Paul Harrison and Rhos Orpheus
Paul has also had choral experience with Rhos Orpheus Male Voice Choir.
The Festival Conductor of one of the 1,000 Voices Festival Concerts was John Glyn Williams.
John Glyn Williams conducting the Massed Choir Practice in 2000
He was also the Musical Director of Rhos Orpheus Male Voice Choir. He invited choristers from Denbigh to join Rhos to compete at the National Eisteddfod in Bala.
As a result Paul, Iorwerth Davies, Wyn Evans and Hugh Williams sang with the Rhos Orpheus and competed with them in the National Eisteddfod.
Benefits of Choir Membership
Paul loves being in a choir. He also relishes the challenge of learning new music. He likes the camaraderie and being part of the choir ‘family’.
Paul Harrison (centre) and Choir in Concert
He looks forward to performing in concert and hearing the comments from the audience afterwards.
He concludes “We enjoy each other’s company and are welfare and community minded.
Singing in a choir enables you to meet so many nice people with a similar interest. I count myself fortunate to have made so many good friends in this way.”
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