Numbers might be down but confidence is up with NYCOS

Normally at concerts by the National Youth Choir of Scotland (Dundee branch), only a couple of songs stand out for me. Not this time, though. On Sunday night in the Caird Hall, they put together an excellent programme that not only entertained but stretched the singers, either as individual choirs or as an ensemble. Choir director Mairi Leggatt did her homework to great effect.

There were more solos than usual, with each seizing the spotlight and coming up with the goods, either as beginner to NYCOS or as a 10-year veteran.

Mairi used the word “musicianship” more than once in her vote of thanks.

Quite right too, because if there’s anything NYCOS can instil in a singer it’s that, plus confidence and choral discipline.

I mentioned that some songs stood out, and they started with One Small Voice for the combined choirs followed by the Chamber Choir’s two Rutter songs, I Got A Robe and Deep River.

In between these classics were the Junior and Intermediate Choirs’ Last Kiss Goodbye and while the Training Choir are novices in comparison, what they lack in finesse is well compensated by enthusiasm and by giving it gusto.

One small point, though... I could’ve done with more volume in the inner harmony parts.

NYCOS starts at P4 age and ends 10 years later with a pretty efficient grounding in all things vocal.

Sunday night saw the end of an era for eight girls, and they signed off in style with Bette Midler’s The Rose, which is quite a moving song both for the girls and for any of the audience whose affiliation with NYCOS goes back a while.

Numbers might be down, but confidence is up with NYCOS Dundee, meaning there’s much to look forward to in the coming years.