The choir had another successful year in 2019 and we’re grateful for everyone that was with us along the way. We’re refreshed after our Christmas break and are now working towards the year ahead of us to make sure 2020 is just as memorable as 2019 was.
One of the main goals of the choir is to promote Gaelic in our local area and beyond, and, last year, we certainly did that.
In February, we attended the Fife Festival of Music and were really well-received. Even though the event wasn’t focused on Gaelic music, people really seemed to enjoy hearing some songs from the Gaelic tradition. It was an all round enjoyable evening.
In April, we were invited to sing at the Stirling Marathon. We were set up at a point on the marathon’s route on Dunblane Bridge and spent a few hours cheering on the runners with our singing. We got some really great feedback from the marathon organisers and we’re so glad they decided to have us there.
We competed in the Stirling Mòd in May where we’re always grateful for the chance to meet up with our good friends from the other choirs. Although we didn’t win any of the choral competitions, it was good to debut our pieces for the National Mòd and see what we needed to work on. And, naturally, we had a nice get together afterwards.
Our annual concert was in September where we performed a good variety of songs. And, in addition to some lovely performances from soloists and duets within the choir, we had the privilege of hearing Dugald MacKechnie (winning piper of the junior competitions at Stirling Mòd) and Sgiobalta perform as our guests. We had a really good turnout and it was wonderful to perform for so many smiling faces, new and familiar alike.
In October, we were asked to do a pop-up performance in the Thistles Centre to promote the National Mòd. We gathered quite the crowd, all of whom were very complimentary. Several people approached choir members between performances for a chat and it was easy to see that a love of the Gaelic tradition is alive and well in Stirling.
That brings us to the big day. The 2019 Royal National Mòd was held in Glasgow and, once again, the choir brought home the Margret Duncan trophy. Not only that, we were awarded the John McNicoll trophy for the highest mark in Gaelic and our conductor, Jane McQueen, received the conductor’s baton. As always, the Mòd ended with the massed choir event, bringing all the choirs together to sing as one. What could be better?
We had a very special visitor in November. The John McNicoll trophy was first introduced in 1956 and was paid for by the friends and family of John McNicoll, including members of Stirling Gaelic Choir as John had been a founding member. After our win at the Mòd, John’s daughter, Margaret Logan, got in touch and was able to attend one of our practices to meet the choir and see the trophy in person once again.
It’s always nice to dust off our Christmas pieces when December comes around. We preformed at the Parish Church Halls during the Bridge of Allan Christmas Fair, sharing some Gaelic carols with the fair-goers. This also marked the first performance of the junior choir who did an amazing job singing for such a big crowd.
Throughout the year, we continued to do a lot within the community. We regularly visit a number of care homes in the local area (and beyond), to sing some Scottish favourites and bring some cheer. We also had the opportunity to sing at the Curly Coo for an informal evening, something we were grateful for as they are always so welcoming to us.
With all that behind us, we’re now looking forward to the year ahead and all the great things that 2020 may bring for the choir. And we’d love to have you with us – find out how to join the choir and make some lifelong friends in 2020.
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