Annual Report

SEP 2006– AUG 2007

General summary

This year the choir invited a number of professionals to lead weekend workshops, introducing members to different styles of songs and ways of singing as well as the regular Tuesday night sessions run by the choir’s Musical Director, Alison Burns.  We were also lucky to have Kate Howard return to teach more vocal techniques during some “taster sessions”, as well as performing as our soloist for the Forgotten Carols.

In the spring the choir started an extended project that we called Time and Tide, which focussed on traditional songs connected to the sea.  Ali spent a lot of time researching local archives as well as Scottish and British resources and discovered a wealth of songs, which were taught throughout the year and performed in the autumn.

The website is now fully developed and is updated regularly with rehearsal information for choir members and performance details for our audience.  The committee has also started producing a newsletter with information, reviews and a list of events, workshops and performances.  Both these forms of communication have become increasingly important in keeping the members up-to-date with the group’s work and activities.

During the year the choir were awarded funding from the Hugh Fraser Foundation, Barfil Charitable Trust and the Dumfries & Galloway Leader+ Programme.

Workshops and other events

10/09/06: American Close Harmony with Val Mindel and Emily Miller
29/10/06:  Forgotten Carols Launch
31/03/07:  The Gutting Girls, songs of Scottish fishing tradition workshop with Christine Kydd
18/05/07:  A Dorset Sailor, Tim Laycock performance at Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas
19/05/07:  Steady The Helm, seafaring songs and shanty workshop with Tim Laycock
14/07/07:  Knotting, Netting & Knitting workshop with Dave Walker
20/07/07:  Spooky Men’s Chorale performance at Castle Douglas Town Hall

Performance dates and venues

15/12/06:  Forgotten Carols, Corsock Village Hall

17/12/06:   Forgotten Carols, Dumfries Museum

19/12/06:  Forgotten Carols, Dalton Village Hall

20/12/06:  Forgotten Carols, Dalbeattie Parish Church Hall

16/02/07:  The Heart Is A Tree For Love, Dalry Village Hall

17/02/07:   The Heart Is A Tree For Love, Twynholm Village Hall

Members

With another 20 members joining us since last year, there are now 151 people on our mailing list, which constitutes our membership.  75 have actively participated in the workshops and performances with an average attendance of 40 people per session.  One of the choir’s aims for the Time and Tide project was to introduce more men to sing with the choir, so it’s really good to report that of the 20 new members, 11 are male.