Special guests to mark 21 milestone for Choir’s carol concert

 

The Faculty Choir’s charity carol concert turns 21 this year, and every effort has been made to make it a special celebration.

The event, held each year since 1996, is returning to one of its former homes, the Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, on Thursday, 15 December, at 7pm.

As in all previous years, the 21^st consecutive concert will be in aid of Edinburgh City Mission and its work with the homeless.

The celebrated author and non-practising member of Faculty, Alexander McCall Smith, has written a short piece especially for the concert and he will read it.

Also, award-winning jazz guitarist, Nigel Clark, will make a short contribution, thus adding the Choir to his list of musical collaborators which already includes Clannad, Jan Akkerman, Carol Kidd and Gloria Gaynor.

And, of course, there will be the traditional and ever-popular mix of seasonal readings, choral and community singing.

“Take a break from shopping, pop in on your way home from work or bring the children – it will be the perfect start to the evening,” said Ross Macfarlane, QC, the Choir’s artistic director.

The Choir was founded in 1996 and, under the musical and artistic direction of Neil Beynon, Advocate, and Mr Macfarlane, has performed in venues including St Peter’s in Rome, St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Notre Dame in Paris and Off-Broadway in New York.

Tickets for the carol concert are free and can be obtained from the Queen’s Hall box office, 0131 668 2019.  A collection for Edinburgh City Mission will be taken at the end of the concert, around 8:15pm.