Fife Festival of Music Feb 2024
Once again the Choir entered the Choral Groups section of the Annual Fife Festival of Music with a performance at St Bryce's Church in Kirkcaldy on Friday 2nd February. With a variety of Choirs on show ranging from Mixed voice groups, All Female and small ensembles showcasing a whole variety of contemporary tunes, medieval music and classic Choir songs the concert was again a great display of the talent resident in Fife and our surrounds. The EFMVC performed four pieces which as you can see from the copy of the Adjudicators report below, they were very well received by all in attendance.
Rachie: Beautiful opening song. Loved the sensitive phrasing on the dynamics here. Such a dramatic climax which shows off the balance of your choir.
You Raise Me Up: I like it - I have heard it sung many times. This is the first time I have heard it how I would like it to be sung. Perfect.
The Seal Lullaby: A tricky song for any choir to perform. Once again you do it well. Not only musically, under your conductor's guidance, but emotionally. What a beautiful rendition of this memorable song.
Worried Man Blues: Guys - I think you like this. What great diction and delivery. A pure joy. What a performance - be proud - and congratulations to your conductor and accompanist.
I loved this, thank you.
Just what the Doctor ordered !
Following the publication of the Courier article on Ian Duncan we were contacted by Dr Zindzi Greenwood, a Dundee-based GP to come along to her Health centre to sing for her patients and colleagues.
Dr Greenwood is a great believer in the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of singing along with a more holistic approach to medicine. Again, this concert was covered by the local press and EFMVC made it onto the front page of the The Courier, benefiting both the efforts of Dr Greenwood and our Choir in raising awareness about the health benefits both of singing and of Music generally.
Full article available here. Courier subscription may be required.
Hold the Front Page !
We were also fortunate to feature in the local press in November when The Courier Newspaper ran an article about one of our members, Ian Duncan, who was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 13 years ago and has found singing helps to keep his lungs working well. Featuring Ian's support from the charity Asthma and Lung UK, the article majored upon the health benefits of singing and the camaraderie of choir membership generally.
Full article available here. Courier subscription may be required.
Christmas Concerts
2023 culminated in our Annual Winter/Christmas concert back at the Old Kirk in Kirkcaldy in December where a programme of Choir pieces, many featuring the writing talents of John Rutter, was interlaced with a good old audience sing along of traditional Carols to end the year.
In late November, a small group of the choir went to join the residents of Blair Castle in Culross where the Scottish Mining Welfare Trust help support Ex-Miners and their relatives and to provide the entertainment at their annual Christmas Dinner.
Traditional choir pieces, Burns recitals and a few Christmas carol singalongs were well received and the residents joined in with all the old favourites!
Click on image for video on our facebook page.
Robin Flies the Nest !
Meet Callum MacLeod - Our New Accompanist!
April saw the end of our 22/23 calendar culminate in our Traditional Annual Concert at the Old Kirk Kirkcaldy which was also the final performance by our long serving accompanist Robin Bell, who decided to move onto pastures new after another great show literally 'pulling out all the stops' for his final rendition of Morte Christe on the wonderful organ at the church.
Thankfully we were most fortunate to find a successor in the form of another very experienced and accomplished local musician, Callum McLeod, who joined the choir in September to work alongside our Musical
Director, Marilyn Boulton. See his Biography on the About us page.
In October the Choir were asked to perform as part of the 900-year anniversary celebrations at the small, but very beautiful, St Fillan's Church in Aberdour, Fife, one of the oldest churches in Scotland.