New conductor will make his debut at church concert
A leading Paisley choir is to celebrate the appointment of a new conductor with a special concert.
RockUs Community Choir will perform at Paisley’s Holy Trinity & St Barnabas’ Church this Sunday as part of the church’s 200th anniversary celebrations.
Taking up the baton for the first time will be Gregg Muir.
Born in Paisley and brought up in Bishopton, Gregg’s interest in music began at age six in the Bishopton Boys’ Brigade marching band, playing trumpet.
After graduating from Strathclyde University, with specialities in composition and community music, Gregg began a career in music and has worked with a variety of organisations, including as a music development officer for North Lanarkshire Council and as music director for Theatre Nemo, a mental health arts organisation.
He is currently working with the Village Storytelling Centre in Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow.
Gregg plays the piano and trumpet, and has sung backing vocals for Lou Hickey and the Lovebites, along with session work for bands such as The Imagineers, Codeine Velvet Club, and Alun Woodward of the Delgados.
He said: “Music is as important to a person as reading and writing is.
“It’s such a personal and emotional connection for someone to have, to listen to a song, an instrument, an ensemble and be suddenly stopped in your tracks by it.
“Music can change your mood in a heartbeat, and can lift people out of very dark places. Music is proven to help people with dementia, autism, mental health issues and so much more.”
RockUs is well known for singing classics from the world of pop and rock across the ages, from Abba to Adele, Queen to James Bay and from Elvis to Justin Timberlake.
It has gone from strength to strength since it formed in 2011 with only four members, and now has more than 100.
And on Sunday it will help Holy Trinity and St Barnabas celebrate its 200th anniversary as a Scottish Episcopal Church.
If you’d like to attend this fundraising show, which starts at 7pm at the church in St James’ Place, contact RockUs on its Facebook Page or phone or send a text to 07479 000564.