Gaelic choir seek new blood

Stirling Gaelic Choir is looking for new members as it prepares for this year’s Royal National Mod.

The choir is inviting those interested to attend an open rehearsal on the evening of Wednesday January 25 in the Logie Kirk Hall, Causewayhead.

Stirling Gaelic Choir was founded in 1948 and currently has 25 members.

Music and song are a vital part of Gaelic culture and oral tradition.

The songs tell stories of history and nature, of day-to-day life and its emotions, of love and loss as well as work and war.

Choir conductor Jane Mcqueen said:“everyone is welcome to come and meet the choir, to join in a simple song, or just to listen and enjoy a cup of tea.

“Stirling Gaelic Choir members are a very friendly and welcoming group who enjoy singing together.

“There are no auditions to join and no knowledge of Gaelic is required.

“You don’t have to speak Gaelic to sing it.

“Most of the choir members do not speak Gaelic and learning the Gaelic words may look daunting to start with, but we have an excellent Gaelic tutor who helps us understand and pronounce the words correctly.”

The choir has members from across Stirling and the Forth Valley and as far away as Perth and Glenrothes.

Jane added that now is the perfect time of year for new members to join a Gaelic choir as they start to work on songs for the Royal National Mod in Paisley in October where Stirling Gaelic Choir will be competing for the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy having won it in 2018 and 2019.

The choir, which takes part in Stirling civic and charity events, will perform its own annual concert on Saturday September 9 at Dunblane’s Victoria Halls.

It meets weekly for rehearsals at Logie Kirk

Hall on Wednesdays between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.

To find out more about the choir go to: https:// stirlinggaelicchoir.wixsite. com/sgc2 and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or contact the choir on stirlinggaelic choir@gmail.com