CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2023

We held our Christmas Concert on Saturday 16th December 2023 in the Lyle Kirk, Greenock. This was our first concert with our new Musical Director, Nicholas Wilks.

 

The choir were delighted to be joined
again by the Riverside Youth Band, led by Mark Good. We were also pleased to welcome back
former member, Ruaraidh McBain who sang various baritone solo parts, and who excelled himself.
 

We were brilliantly accompanied on organ and piano by Chris Nickol.

The programme included favourite seasonal choral works, carols for the audience to sing, as well as
more recent songs from living composers including Oliver Tarney and John Rutter.

Nicholas Wilks said afterwards, “There was just the right atmosphere, and I was especially pleased
with the way the choir adapted to the individual style of each of the carols. The consistently high
standard throughout the concert was extremely impressive, and I had some terrific feedback from
members of the audience and the band.”

Music included – Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow by John Rutter, Three Kings by Peter Cornelius, Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day by John Gardner, Sir Christemas by William Mathias, A Hymn to the Virgin by Benjamin Britten and This Christmas Night by Malcolm Williamson.

 

Congratulations to the quartet from the choir – Anne Armour, Willi Nesbitt, Philip Monk and John Miller – who featured on A Hymn to the Virgin.

We had a great turnout, lots of festive snacks at the end, and we also added a fun new venture for
the choir, which was donning festive headgear after the interval.