Inverness Singers to celebrate the choir's 50th anniversary at a concert in Crown Church showcasing a new song dedicated to the city called Sing Me Home
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Inverness Singers is preparing to celebrate 50 years of choral singing at an anniversary concert in Crown Church showcasing a new number dedicated to the city called Sing Me Home.
Both the lyrics and music were composed by Lila Senior, the city choir’s musical director, and will join the dozen or so songs mentioning the city. The programme will feature the new track alongside spirituals such as Deep River and Down By The Riverside, more modern songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and Keane’s Everybody’s Changing.
Inverness Singers was formed in 1972 “to afford members the opportunity of singing for their own enjoyment such music as meets with the approval of the majority” and the first concert was held the following year under inaugural conductor Ruth Grant.
A string of conductors have taken the helm over the years, including Doris Blair, who now bolsters the ranks of the choir’s sopranos and still occasionally steps in to conduct the choir.
Ms Blair, who was in charge of the choir for 17 years, said she was a little apprehensive about conducting at the concert in front of an audience, saying: “It’s a bit nerve-racking after so many years not doing it.”
The concert is remarkable also because the songs on the programme have been chosen by six previous musical directors who will be there to conduct them on the night. It will also feature mezzo soprano Alison Young as guest artist, promising to be a memorable occasion and the choir is hoping for a large audience to mark it.
Rehearsals have been going well and Lila said: “It’s great to hear an improvement from one week to the next. It means that everyone feels inspired enough to go home and practise.
“There’s a feeling of togetherness as a group, which makes for a real buzz at rehearsals. There’s always a happy atmosphere and every Wednesday evening, St Stephen’s Church is a welcoming place for the choristers to leave any troubles behind and enjoy singing together.
“I’m really looking forward to the concert. For most of the first half I’ll be sitting listening with the audience while our guest conductors take charge. It’s something I never usually have the opportunity to do.
“Inverness Singers gave their first concert a few months after I was born. It’s quite a thought, and incredible that the choir has continued to exist under different directors for so many years.”
But Ms Senior faced a difficult challenge bringing Sing Me Home to life, she said: “The obvious thing for a choir song was the music, the sounds and voices of Inverness.
“Last November, when I was flying back from London, the plane circled widely on its approach to Inverness airport, giving me an incredibly inspiring view of the city from above, in that beautiful Highland light, so that became the first part of the song. Then came the excitement as the plane began its descent – that warm feeling of coming home to such a lovely place after leaving the greyness and murk of Luton in the fog.
“While the lyrics did take a while to write, the music was the easy part. It just comes, without me having to do very much. The music tells me where it wants me to go, all I have to do is play it on the piano, write it down and arrange the parts in a way that makes them enjoyable to sing.”
The concert will be at Crown Church on April 26, starting at 7.30pm with suggested donations of £11 for adults and £5 for students and children.
