Mounting excitement ahead of signing choir competition

First time national contest has been held in Scotland

Makaton choirs will take part in a national signing choir competition at the Caird Hall in Dundee this weekend.

Signed Songs R Us and Sing It Sign It are among those joining children’s choirs from Claypotts Castle and Clepington primaries and the AIS Dundee choir for the event, taking place in Scotland for the first time.

Choirs will perform on stage using Makaton sign language while singing.

Makaton is a simplified form of British Sign Language (BSL) made famous by children’s television character Mr Tumble and used by those with communication difficulties.

Mike Carlin, choir master from Sing It Sign It, said: “I think we are all really excited to be given the opportunity because it is a BSL competition. It’s just great this year is being held in Dundee.”

Alana Harper, CEO of Tayside Deaf Hub, said: “There are 11 choirs entered. We have got the Dundee City Pipe Band who are going to welcome people arriving to come and watch the competition. A lot of the choirs are coming from England, we want to give them a real Scottish welcome.”

Signed Songs R Us is a mixture of deaf and hearing people. It is hosting a welcoming ceilidh tomorrow night for the guests and a civic reception will be held by Depute Lord Provost Bill Campbell at noon on Saturday.

There are a range of both adult and children’s choirs competing in the competition, which will be judged by Joseph Sheridan, head of ITV Signpost Scotland, EJ Raymond, a freelance artist and professional actress, and Rosie Addis, an interpreter and chairwoman of Deaf Action in Edinburgh.

The winner of the competition and runner-up in the adult and children’s categories will be awarded a trophy.

The competition is on Saturday at the Caird Hall and begins at 7pm.

Picture: Steven Brown. Makaton Sing It Sign It Choir members.