Annual Report

September 2010 to August 2011

This year we have undertaken a greater number of projects than previous years and the number of members has fluctuated throughout the year depending on what other commitments the choir members have.

Last Christmas we performed our ever popular Forgotten Carols with Alan Tall as our reader and Polly Bolton as our soloist. We were again lucky to have the services of Wendy Stewart on traditional harp. Our first performance at Twynholm Village Hall occurred on the same night as the first of the winter's snow, but despite that we had a good audience. Our subsequent performances at Dumfries Museum and Haugh of Urr Village Hall were both sold out.

In January we reprised our project "Burns: The Giftie Bard" along with our sister choir, Cairn Chorus with performances at Moniaive and in Edinburgh. As previously our lead performers were Mairi Campbell, Dave Francis and Wendy Stewart and a small string group drawn from the two choirs.

Dave Francis reading, Mairi Campbell (seated) during
performance of Burns: The Giftie Bard in January

Our co-operation with Cairn Chorus continued in March when we held a joint fund-raising ceilidh at Corsock village hall with a band drawn from musicians from the two choirs.

In May the choir performed on King Street as part of the Food Town Day. In early June we sang for a wedding in the magical setting of Caerlaverock Castle and at the end of June members of the Feral Choir and Cairn Chorus sang at the World Peace Day ceremony at Allanton.

At the start of July members of the choir, along with some 300 other singers from across Scotland, sang for WaterAid on the Royal Mile by the original Scottish Parliament.

Ali conducting for Scotland Sings for Water event in July.

Towards the end of July the choir organised a workshop led by Sheasby Matiure from Zimbabwe and also performed twice at Greyfriar's Kirk as part of the Kirkcudbright Art and Crafts Trail weekend.

On the 24th August the choir hosted the Spooky Mens' Chorale who performed at a sell-out concert at the Cochrane Hall in Kirkcudbright.

I would like to thank the members of the Feral Choir committee who have met regularly throughout the year and have organised the events that we have been involved in. Above all I wish to thank our Musical Director, Ali Burns, whose good humour, enthusiasm and leadership have made this another memorable year for the Choir.

Paul Taylorson, Chairman