Ayr Choral Union

Ayr Choral Online Handel’s Messiah

In March this year, the members of Ayr Choral sadly had to cancel what was going to be a spectacular version of Handel’s Messiah in Ayr Town Hall. After six months, and enthusiastic responses to exploring a range of choral music in Zoom rehearsals online, Messiah is back with an exciting 90 minute performance. Singers will access the music through Zoom, and our audience can find us on Ayr Choral’s YouTube Channel, at 7pm on 25th October. With a recorded small orchestra and four exceptional soloists, choir members and their friends will join our Conductor, Andrew McTaggart, to give Messiah their all from the privacy of their own homes.
There will be two Zoom rehearsals on 13th and 20th October at 7.30 pm, which are open to all members of Ayr Choral, and to any Messiah fans, guests and friends who would like to join in this particular “Come and Sing”.
To book a place or get more information, contact ayrchoral@outlook.com or check us out on www.ayrchoralunion.net or @ayrchoralunion on Facebook.
No one has been unaffected by the impact of Covid 19. Live performances have been cut drastically and therefore many freelance musicians have had their incomes severely diminished. The first performance of Messiah in the UK was a charitable act to raise funds for a foundling hospital. In this spirit and in the tradition of Messiah performances helping those living through difficult times, the members of Ayr Choral will be inviting donations to “Help Musicians Scotland”- the charity helping freelance musicians through these challenging months.

In May, Ayr Choral launched three virtual rehearsals online, using Zoom, attended by over 100 singers and led by our enthusiastic and ingenious Musical Director Andrew McTaggart.

Feedback was very positive “I loved every minute….great fun….good to see everyone…therapeutic!”

Ayr Choral will be continuing to hold online rehearsals for the first part of Season 2020-21. The ongoing effects and restrictions of Covid-19 mean that our best option is to continue to rehearse and perform online – meeting the needs of our members , and strengthening the singing community wherever people are – until circumstances allow us to sing together and perform safely in person for our brilliant audiences.
Online Zoom Rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm starting on August 25th. Ayr Choral members will receive all the necessary information, with a special (non virtual) pack of music and rehearsal support materials. Help and advice will be available for using Zoom confidently. There will be 6 online rehearsals which will include singing hints and tips, fun warm-ups and rounds, and works by Mendelssohn, Rheinberger and Will Todd, plus 2 rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah followed by a virtual Sing Along evening with orchestra and professional soloists at the end of October.

We would also warmly welcome any guest singers, at a cost of £35, which includes 8 rehearsals, a music pack, access to training tracks and coaching with professional singers
If you are still interested, please download and return the registration form below by email to ayrchoral@outlook.com.

Come and Sing On-line!

Ayr Choral is holding 3 open & completely FREE rehearsals working with Andy McTaggart simply to enjoy singing together!

We will be joined vocally by Soprano Catriona Hewitson, Mezzo-soprano Penelope Cousland, Tenor Ted Black and Baritone Colin Murray. You will sing along with them on the night and the practice tracks which they have recorded will be available after the first rehearsal.

The session will include warm-ups, followed by singing along to pre-recorded accompaniments with a special project thrown in for extra fun! You don’t need a microphone or camera – just a computer, tablet or phone which can access Zoom.

We won’t be able to hear each other – the technology isn’t good enough yet!
However, you will be able to see and hear Andy, the accompaniment by our professional singers and players and take part in the fun!

What do you need ?

You need a computer with speakers, or a laptop, phone or tablet which supports Zoom.

Get a Zoom account
If you do not have an account already, go to www.zoomus.com and sign up for a free account and download the app to your device. This will mean you can see and hear Andy and the accompaniment.

If you have any problems – click on this link.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y_puMRsjTQ

Download your music.

(Music file now removed)

On the Tuesday…
The room will be open at 7:15pm. Just click on the link below and wait for Andy to start at 7:30pm and then ENJOY!

Week 1 (12th May)
Topic: Come and Sing On-line Week 1

Week 2 (19th May)
Topic: Come and Sing On-line Week 2

Week 3 (26th May)

Topic: Come and Sing On-line Week 3

JIf you have any questions, please contact ayrchoral@outlook.com.

Priidite from All Night Vespers Op. 37
Bogoroditse Devo from All Night Vespers Op. 37

Audience Carol–Good King Wenceslas

John Rutter
Gloria

4 Recits and Chorus from Messiah

Ecce Novum Gaudium

Star Carol

Three Kings from Persian lands afar

A Spotless Rose

Audience Carol–Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Holy Night
Gordon Cree, Yuletide Medley

Ayr Choral are having a Come and Sing on Saturday 4th January 2020 in Alloway Parish Church and Halls led by our Musical Director Andrew McTaggart. The day will cover the choruses from Handel’s Messiah with a short sing through with soloists of the “best bits” for an audience of friends, families and followers at 4.30 pm. This is a glorious way to start a new year and recover from the festive season.

These will also be available at rehearsals, and Shona will be available to collect applications and money, and answer any questions, at rehearsals from the beginning of November.

Our Spring Concert in March will be a performance of Messiah with professional soloists and orchestra, so the Come and Sing will be a good refresher course for whom this work is an old friend, and a voyage of discovery for others to make friends with Handel’s choral triumph!

Please share this with any friends or family who might like to come along and sing!

For further information and a sign up form, follow link to Application Form and downloadable pdf.

Come and Sing (2)

Dove, Abendlied, and La Nuit.

As well as looking for  and marking ensemble moments in Randall Thompson Alleluia.

Following the completion of Connor’s year with us, Ayr Choral will be giving the opportunity for a new young conductor to come and work with the choir and Andrew.

The post was advertised through the RCS and after a detailed interview procedure, part of which involved the applicants taking part of our Tuesday rehearsal, we are happy to appoint Matthew McKinney as our Assistant Conductor for the season 2019-20.

Matthew is a final year student in undergraduate performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As a tenor he has been a professional chorus member and soloist. He has also worked as a conductor, teacher and coach, and is keen to broaden his experience. As a member of the Genesis 16 Scheme and Dunedin Consort “Bridging the Gap” he has had the opportunity to work with professional singers and conductors at the highest level.

A big “ThankYou” to all who participated in our workshop on the Vaughan Williams. It was a chance for us to have a good look at this exciting  and moving work. It was well attended by choir members as well as some new faces testing the waters.

Ayr Community Church, 55 John Street, Ayr, KA8 0BS        1pm-4pm

As we launch our 2018/19 season, come and sing Vaughan Williams’ dramatic  Dona Nobis Pacem with our musical director Andrew McTaggart. Experience the drama and emotion of Vaughan Williams’ setting of the evocative texts by the American poet, Walt Whitman as we commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1.