NEW MEMBER PROFILES:
PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOINED CAPITAL CHORUS DURING 2008
SEBASTIAN ROMEO (tenor)
Although still only 21, Sebastian has been singing barbershop for some seven years. Initially this was at high school in Berlin, Germany, where he was brought up, but he subsequently sang with the Harmonaholics in Newcastle, UK, before joining Capital Chorus in September 2008. He has also sung classical music, both in his school choir and chamber choir and with the Felling Male Voice Choir in Newcastle. Sebastian is now taking a two-year BA course in Technical Theatre at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in north London, and hopes to make a career in lighting and/or set design. Aside from singing, Sebastian plays the guitar, French horn, and a variety of recorders and native flutes.
GREG NIXON (tenor)
 Early in his career Greg was a singing actor, touring schools in educational musical theatre. However, he also confesses to appearing on stage naked in one role and wearing a nappy in another! Little wonder that appearing on the risers doesn’t seem to faze him. After a brief spell with Harmony Revival in his native Stockport, Greg “followed his heart” to London in 2007, and now works as a technician in TV post-production. His hobbies include ultimate frisbee, he loves discos and remains a loyal Manchester City supporter (well, nobody’s perfect). Describing how he came to join Capital Chorus in May 2008, Greg says: “I just turned up at rehearsals one evening. I remember being really impressed by the singing…and then even more impressed at how friendly everyone was. A group of the guys took me with them to the pub after practice had finished and made me feel very welcome. I think barbershoppers are really one big brotherhood.”
TONY POOLE (bass)
Tony has had a sparkling career as a professional singer and actor. He claims his first paid job was aged four, singing to the Mayor of Northampton, but his name first went up in lights as part of the Melo-macs, a doo-wah style quartet which toured UK variety halls. He subsequently appeared in West End musicals, at the London Palladium and in pantomime. He also featured in films, and auditioned for the part of James Bond, losing out to Roger Moore. Even so, it is Tony’s profile which appears on the cover of some of the early James Bond books. He also had a successful modelling career, appearing in various TV commercials, notably as the “St Bruno man” (pipe tobacco), and for PAL dog food (!!). He is married to former actress Liz Valentine, who will be remembered by many as Rita Spears in Coronation Street.
MARTIN KUNZ (lead)
Born and raised in Stuttgart, Germany, Martin moved to London in 1998. He now builds supply chains for fairly-traded and environmentally-friendly goods, most notably footballs, sneakers and anything else using rubber (!). His main hobby is gardening, particularly growing traditional varieties of fruit and vegetables: one of his greatest successes is a rare type of apple tree, native to the Stuttgart area, which is now growing happily in Acton. He’s always loved singing, but shudders when he recalls being the lead in a musical production in 2nd grade at school and starting the first song an octave too high. “I just wish I could hit those high notes now” he adds.
RAY BAXTER (lead)
Music is in Ray’s blood. His grandfather and father were both drummers, and one grandmother was a professional pianist (though Ray adds that this was in Woolworths, where her job was to boost sheet music sales!). Ray himself has been playing the drums in rock groups since he was 17, at one stage featuring in three groups simultaneously and playing gigs six nights a week. He subsequently moved on to jazz-rock, with his group playing on the Old Grey Whistle Test and Radio 1’s Jazz Club. Although he still plays in a rock group, Ray works as a “piano tuner to the stars” to pay the bills. He has tuned for many major artists, including Paul McCartney, and his current clients include many West End theatres, the Abbey Road and Pinewood studios and Harrods.
ROB NATHAN (bass)
 Rob’s aspirations to fame have found an outlet in such venerable institutions as The Putney Players, where he appeared as the lead Butterfly in “The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner” a musical play for children. He has also sung the part of the Baker and Reuben in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. In a more classical vein he has joined hundreds of others basses at the Royal Albert Hall’s Scratch Choral Concerts, including Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem. Rob was trained as an Occupational Psychologist. He loves his work, which involves helping people with career decisions, and training others to do likewise. His other hobbies include creative writing and long distance cycling. Next year he will be celebrating his 60th by cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and aims to raise £60,000 for two charities.
Go to www.justgiving.com/robnathanlejog !
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