Annual Report
September 2008 to August 2009
This year has been a particularly active and successful. Choir membership has increased and in particular the number of men regularly singing in the choir has gone up.
The first event of the year was the ever-popular Forgotten Carols, which was performed for the seventh year. The Choir welcomed back Sam Lee as soloist and the concerts were performed at Dalry Town Hall on Friday December 19th, Dalbeattie Parish Church Hall, on Saturday December 20th and the final performance at Threave Gardens Visitor Centre on Sunday December 21st. Each concert was well attended and very well received by enthusiastic audiences. The event was enhanced by mulled wine and mince pies provided by the choir during the interval.
On January 25th the choir performed at the Whitesands Dumfries as part of the Burns Light event mounted by DGAA. Despite being let down by the lack of amplification, the choir performed a number of Burns’ songs to an appreciative audience. It later gave a number of impromptu performances during the evening to delighted audiences.
On Sunday May 24th the choir performed Spring Sing with harpist Wendy Stewart at Twynholm Village Hall as part of the Spring Fling weekend. Again we performed to a full house and the audience was very appreciative.
On Saturday June 13th we performed at Gatehouse of Fleet Parish Church for the Gatehouse Burns’ Society Homecoming celebrations.
On June 22nd we promoted a concert by the Spooky Men’s Chorale from Australia. The Spookys, fresh from their success at the Sidmouth Folk Festival performed to a sell-out audience at Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall. During the interval we provided refreshments in return for a donation to Water Aid.
During the year, the committee met regularly to direct the development of the choir and organise the various events that we have been involved in. I would like to thank all members of the committee for their support and commitment to the choir and all choir members who have contributed to what has been a very successful and enjoyable year. Above all I would like to thank our musical director Alison Burns for her good humour, vision, patience and sheer hard work during the year. Without Ali none of this would have been possible.
Ken Gouge, Chair 2007 - 2009