Updates

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION   Inverurie Choral Society seeks a Graduate/Post-graduate musician with a qualification/interest in Vocal Tuition, who would like to progress their musical career development by directing a local Choir such as ours.  Excellent Keyboard skills for our weekly practices and the occasional informal performances are essential.  We do “buy in” an accompanist for formal concerts, but do not have a weekly accompanist. A fee is payable per rehearsal and for concerts.  

APPLICATIONS  Applications are invited from musicians with appropriate qualifications. A recently qualified graduate who is looking to develop experience as a choir MD is certainly welcome to apply.  A letter of application with CV attached should be emailed to arrive by Friday 17 January 2025:  to inveruriechoral@gmail.com or by post to: 
Inverurie Choral Society, 
c/o 7, Cuninghill Road, 
Inverurie, AB51 3TS. 

SPREAD THE WORD!  If you are interested, we would be pleased to receive your application a soon as possible.  If you know of anyone else who might be interested in joining us as our new Director of Music, would you please pass on this information to them? We’d be very happy to discuss the post informally with anyone interested in applying - please see contact information below.   

SELECTION PROCESS  A practical interview will be arranged as soon as possible on a Wednesday evening, provisionally 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday 22nd or Wednesday 29th January 2025. This will consist of an informal two-way discussion, followed by taking the choir for a warm-up and rehearsal.  

INVERURIE CHORAL SOCIETY   ICS is a small SATB Choir, with approximately 30 active members. The ability to read music is helpful, but not essential, and we hold no auditions.  We meet on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm during school terms in the Acorn Centre, Inverurie, AB51 3SA.  Founded in 1998 by our first Director of Music John Hearne, Moira Hunter took over in 2005, with a year’s input from Paul Tierney during Moira’s absence. Gordon Jack led us from January 2019 until June 2022, and kept us singing throughout the 2020 lockdown. Faith Ockwell joined us as MD in August 2022 but unfortunately we will lose her skills and enthusiasm as she plans to relocate in the new year. 

We sing an eclectic selection from both the classical and contemporary Choral Repertoire, everything from Madrigals to Vaudeville, Mozart to Jenkins, and more. We put on a Christmas and Summer Concert each year, and organise an annual Come and Sing event. We do Sing-Outs by request at Sheltered, Care and Retirement homes, and for Charity fundraising events.   

Our new website is: https://www.inveruriechoral.co.uk/
Our email is: inveruriechoral@gmail.com

Landline: 01467 620441 (Maeve McDowall)
Text/WhatsApp  07801 078000 (Alan Grant)

Maeve McDowall, on behalf of Inverurie Choral Society Committee

Inverurie Choral Society is registered Scottish Charity no: SC034022

Dear Teachers, Young Musicians, and Parents of Young Musicians, 

Hello from the Aberdeen City Music School. We are opening our doors to young musicians on several evenings throughout the 2024/25 academic year. The purpose of the sessions is to let pupils and parents visit ACMS and find out a bit more about us.

This year, we are delighted to be collaborating with the Aberdeen City Music Service, and the North East of Scotland Music School (NESMS) for some of the workshops.

We are hosting different 'Come and Play' sessions for strings, woodwind, brass, vocal, percussion, jazz improvisation, acoustic guitars and Scottish traditional instruments. The sessions will take place on weekday evenings at the Aberdeen City Music School, Dyce Academy and will run from 5.45 pm to 8 pm. Pupils of all abilities from the ages of 9 to 17 are encouraged to participate and will have the opportunity to play in ensembles, work with ACMS pupils in sectionals, and perform in a short informal concert to parents at the end of each session. There is no charge for any of the sessions.

Here are the different Come and Play session days for 2024/25. Please click on the link and fill out the e-form to register your interest.

Events

Come and Play #1- Jazz Improvisation
Tuesday 29th October 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #2 - Traditional Instruments  (Accordion, Harp/Clarsach, Fiddle)
Tuesday 12th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #3 - Bagpipes 
Wednesday 13th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #4 - Strings 
Tuesday 19th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Sing #5 - Voice 
Wednesday 20th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #6 - Woodwind 
Tuesday 7th January 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #7 - Brass 
Wednesday 8th January 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #8 - Percussion 
Thursday 27th February 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play Day #9 - Acoustic Guitar  (Nylon & Steel Strung - not electric)
Electric players - please sign up for the Jazz Improvisation session (29/10/2024)
Wednesday 5th March 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Details for each session:

Venue

Aberdeen City Music School
Dyce Academy, Riverview Drive,
Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 7NF

Google Maps Location Link

Dyce Academy/ACMS Main Entrance (Google Maps Pin)

What 3 Words Location Link

https://w3w.co/homecare.lays.crisis

Start time

17.45 pm

Finish time

8.00 pm (with informal concert at 7.40 pm)

What to Wear

Comfortable and casual but please wear the requested coloured shirt/jumper/top if possible.
(there are different colour themes for the different weeks)

Equipment required

Instrument, pencil, music stand, water bottle

Breaktime

There will be a short break and water and biscuits
will be provided.

Informal concert

This will begin at 7.40 pm in the Multi Purpose Area (MPA).
Audience members will be met at the Dyce Academy main entrance at
7.35 pm and escorted to the MPA
Please could visitors arrive at the entrance no earlier than 7:30 pm.

Cost:

None

Medical, dietary, and other specific requirements

Please fill out this information in the online application form.

Photo and Video

We would like to take some photos and short video clips of the event to
post on our social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube).
Please indicate on the e-form if you are happy or not for your child to be
photographed videoed for these purposes

Parking (Google Maps Link)

Dyce Academy/ACMS Car Park Location (Google Maps Pin)

Parking (What 3 Words Link)

https://w3w.co/intestine.clown.corrode

Contact telephone number (general enquiries)

01224 793 789

Contact telephone number (on the day)

01224 774773

Contact email

musicschool@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Do you like to sing? Whether you're an experienced singer, shower singing aficionado, or someone looking to find your voice, the University of Aberdeen offers a diverse and vibrant selection of vocal opportunities to its students and local community. From the rich harmonies of chamber, chapel, and opera ensembles,  to the dynamic energy of a cappella and show choir groups, these societies cater to diverse musical tastes and abilities. These societies provide a welcoming community and a platform to perform, collaborate, and grow. In this article, we delve into the distinctive characteristics of five of the university's vocal societies, highlighting their similarities and differences, when they rehearse, and what makes them an integral part of the University of Aberdeen's cultural landscape. 

Throughout Welcome Week, you’ll be able to find members of each of these societies around campus, ready to answer any questions you may have! Additionally, most societies offer give-it-a-go sessions and performances, allowing you to dip your toes into a range of options to see what best suits you. Information about these taster sessions, performances, and auditions (where required) can be found on each society’s social media pages, linked next to each group’s description. 

Chamber Choir

Grieg Society of Scotland founder, Dr Sally Garden, returned to the city of Aberdeen – her fond musical ‘home’ – to catch up with the latest, exciting North Sea musical exchange: a concert with young Norwegian pianist Oda Voltersvik and Aberdeen City Orchestra. With a fresh perspective, and familiarity with historical context, it seemed like a hint of something new and promising for Scotland’s classical music scene.

Great news for fans of contemporary and experimental music in Aberdeen! The city council has awarded £37,000 in funding to the Sound Festival to support its groundbreaking work with young people and the local music community.

This significant boost comes from the Aberdeen City Council's Shared Prosperity Fund, which awarded grants to a variety of impactful local organisations. The fund promises to support the Sound's existing programs and pave the way for exciting new initiatives.

What Does This Mean for Aberdeen?

The funding will primarily support the following aspects of Sound’s work:

• Get Creative: A dynamic outreach project focused on unlocking creativity and music composition in young people.
• Any Enemy: Sound’s collaboration with our local new music ensemble, which performs new and experimental music.
• Con Anima: Sound’s collaboration with our local chamber choir known for its adventurous repertoire.