Chris Monk

Baritone

“Now I'm a (kinda) grown-up, I look back on my history and realise that what felt very normal to me back in the day is possibly something quite alien to many people, especially our supporters outside of the UK. I grew up in the leafy Home Counties and went to that oh-so British institution – the choir school, where as a nine-year old, I became most accustomed to daily rehearsals before and after school and performing regular services, concerts and tours.

This early exposure to music continued throughout my school-life and culminated in me studying music at Edinburgh University - quite simply, my favourite city which I always look forward to visiting (and its NOTHING to do with it having the highest density of pubs per square mile in the world...).

Keeping in my chorister tradition, I have held lay clerkships in Edinburgh, Gloucester and most recently, Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. Sacred singing is a big part of my life but I have always felt the need to explore different styles and opportunities that sacred music does not fulfil, but singing with The Songmen does. Where else could anyone hope to have the wonderfully juxtaposed experiences of performing my edition of the complete Victoria Lamentations late-night in the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford one week, and then reel off a selection of pop and swing numbers at a casual party attended by the King's Singers in Germany the next (it's not like that every week!)?

It would be easy to say that the best part of being a ‘Songman’ is getting to travel around the UK and abroad and meeting some simply brilliant people and singing in some wonderful locations, but great as that is, the best part of being a Songmen is not just that, but getting to do it with my friends.”