Teachers ready for big choir contest debut

Teachers from Dingwall High School might soon be top of the pops when their choir heads for Eurovision at the beginning of August.

Kirsteen Maclennan and Steven MacIver will take part in Scotland’s first attendance at the Eurovision Choir Contest in Gothenburg.

The newly formed Gaelic choir, appropriately named Alba, was selected by personal invitation of the conductor, Gaelic singer and BBC presenter Joy Dunlop and is also made up of other singers from across Scotland.

The Dingwall-based teachers are both Mod gold medallists and no strangers to the stage.

“We’re now all ready to take on the challenge”

Mr MacIver has also been rehearsing and recording material for his debut solo album, Cladaich Loch Iubh, to be launched later this year.

Mrs Maclennan said: “It is a great honour to be invited to sing and represent our country on an international stage.

“The choir has been rehearsing over several months now through intense weekend workshops in Glasgow, led by our wonderful conductor Joy and everyone involved has been focused and determined to give 100%.

“It’s been hard work but we’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and we’re now all ready to take on the challenge and experience of a lifetime.”

The choir will sing a four-minute arrangement of three Gaelic songs, which have been specially arranged by Sileas Sinclair from Oban, at the event on August 3 in Sweden.

A documentary following the Eurovision choir’s journey will also air on Thursday August 1 at 8.30pm on BBC Alba.