Tenor gains abbey’s McKellar scholarship
Singer thrilled by award in memory of music legend
05.09.2017 A choral scholarship at Paisley Abbey in memory of singing star Kenneth McKellar has a new recipient.
It was first mooted in 2012 that the scholarship for a male singer would be set up to honour the Paisley-born tenor, who was famous the world over.
And the abbey has now announced that young tenor Liam Bonthrone will take up the role, starting at the beginning of next month. He will be the second person to do so. Mr Bonthrone, 22, a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and who hails from Perth, said he was thrilled to have been chosen for the prestigious scholarship.
He added: “I was brought up with Kenneth McKellar’s singing and to be associated with his name is an honour. He is an idol of mine.
“And Paisley Abbey and its choir is renowned, so I’m very pleased.”
The year- long scholarship is to being funded by the late Mr McKellar’s daughter Jane, and will mean the church can be sure that it will have another skilled singer as part of the choir and give the scholar some very valuable choral experience.
Mr Bonthrone’s scholarship will involve him being member of the abbey choir, singing every Sunday morning and at the evensong services.
It will also see him involved with the other music of the church, such as performances of oratorios.
Professor George McPhee, musical director and choirmaster of Paisley Abbey, said he welcomed the scholarship.
He said: “As one of Paisley’s greatest sons, Kenneth McKellar’s recordings are known throughout the globe and, in the 1960s and 70s, in collaboration with the Abbey Choir, Decca issued several LP recordings of hymns and sacred songs.
“Kenneth also sang frequently with the choir in the abbey including performances of Handel’s Messiah.
“We are delighted that the name of this well-known Scottish tenor is being kept alive through this generous scholarship.”
Mr McKellar was the son of a grocer who ran a shop in Causeyside Street, Paisley, and he was a pupil at the town’s John Neilson Institution.
He then became a student at Aberdeen University, where his great singing voice first had a chance to shine.
Mr McKellar went on to take the world by storm as both an operatic tenor and a much-loved interpreter of Scottish songs, including many which were penned by Robert Burns.
Hundreds of people attended his memorial service at Paisley Abbey in 2012.
Ordinary Buddies mingled with showbiz stars and figures from public life to remember the entertainer who was one of Scotland’s most famous sons.
Recordings by Mr McKellar, as well as music he had written, were played at the touching service.
Jane McKellar said: “My father never forgot who he was or where he was from. and Paisley, Scotland and this abbey were very close to his heart.”