STIRLING GAELIC CHOIR
Summer Newsletter 2017
Looking casual in the Curly Coo whisky pub. Always a good night out
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Open Rehearsal during the Voluntary Arts Festival, 2017
Stornoway Mod 2016- shivering but still smiling
This summer we received a 'highly commended' the Scotland Sings Chorus Awards ; we came seconds in the 'Inspiring Year' category after our very successful concert celebrating the musical arrangements of Chic Bonar with our current conductor Jane McQueen at the helm. This is the second year of the massively popular Chorus Awards with a huge number of entries and the choir is delighted to be flying the flag for Stirling choirs. in the announcements by Alison Burns of Hands up for Trad she said " we loved their commitment to the Gaelic language and to keeping their original repertoire alive"
Join us at the fun of a traditional family ceilidh. Our local Riverside Ceilidh band will put you through your steps! There will be some food and some singing too, and you can bring your own drinks. Bring friends and family and dance the long summer night away!
We are working hard on the preparation for our annual concert, which is a celebration of the work of Chic Bonar, one of our past conductors. The concert will consist of pieces arranged by him for both the choir and for duets, and we will be joined by Fiona Johnston (accordeon) and Pink Champagne. It should be a good night! Tickets available on the door, or contact us if you want to order in advance.
Entertaining in local Care Homes
During February/March 2016 small groups of choir members have been singing in 6 local care homes. It was great to see the audience enjoying our songs. We hope to do this more often
We are proud to have played a small part in Runrig's final studio album, The Story:
Stirling Gaelic Choir: Vocals , 'Every Beating Heart'.
November 28th 2015: Grand craft fair in the Allanpark South Church hall, Stirling.
A great fundraiser and what talents we have for baking and making!
May 2015: together with members of the Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir and the Strath Choir from Skye we made a return visit to Brittany to meet up with our old friends of the Mouezh Paotred Breizh.
Another year another Mod- 2014 Inverness.
No prizes but still smiling- it is the taking part that counts!
PAISLEY - HERE WE COME!
We have had a busy couple of months.
The plant sale was a great success - thank you, all enthusisatic gardeners who bought our 1000 plants.
The Tigh Ceilidh nan Gael was a highlight for us- we seemed to enjoy it as much as our audience. And look at those outfits!
Now we are off to the MOD, the annual celebration of Gaelic language, music and song, this year held in Paisley.We will sing in three competitions on Fiday the 18th October.
We have worked hard all year on leaning our songs so fingers crossed....
STIRLING FRINGE FESTIVAL PRESENTS
TIGH CELIDH NAN GAEL.
Step back in time to the 1950 to an authentic island ceilidh, touching on the lives and experiences of Scottish Gaels, with songs about emigration, love and war, work and play.
A unique and captivating afternoon show performed by Gillebride Mac Ille Mhaoil, Gleusda, Roddy Campbell and Stirling Gaelic Choir.
Cowane's Hopsital ( by the church of the Holy Rude), 2pm
Tickets £8/£6, from www.macrobert.org or 01786 466666.
More about the Stirling Fringe on www. stirlingfringe.com
GIANT PLANT SALE- Saturday 17 th August
Logie Kirk Church Hall, Causewayhead.
Doors open at 12.
Entry £2, incl tea and biscuits
This is a big fundraising event for the choir! Come and visit- there must be something among the the 1000 herbacious perennials that would look good in your garden.
ANNUAL CONCERT 2013
SATURDAY 29TH JUNE, Victoria Hall, Dunblane .
This year's annual concert was one of our best ever, and very well attended by an audience of 150. Our guest artists were the Mouezh Paotred Breizh, a 40 strong Breton Male Voice Choir . They were on a whistle stop tour of Scotland, which we helped to organise, and this was their final concert.
Together we we presented a varied programme of Gaelic and Breton songs, finishing with a joint rendition of the Bro Gozh- the Breton national anthem. It was a tight squeeze but all of us managed to get on to the stage.
In the meantime- have a look at the Breton choir for a flavour of their style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dT1O_jpsaI
Local Mods
On the 18th May we took part in the annual Stirling Mod, along with a number of other choirs. It was a good opportunity to air the songs we are currently working on.
On the 15th of June 25 of us travelled to Aberfeldy, to take part in the 80th anniversary Mod there. It is always a good event and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends.
And here is is the good news: we won! we came first in the 'Puirt a Beul' competition and second in the song competition.
It was a great day in a lovely setting . We look forward to next year!
Open air performance in Stirling Town Centre- 8th June
On this hot Saturday afternoon we performed in Stirling Town centre, watched by shoppers, farmers market customers and patrons enjoying the delights of the various cafe's at the bottom of King Street. It was a good opportunity to show ourselves to a wider public, and good fun too!