Ythan Singers

In January 1980, a group of singers from local churches planned a performance of Stainer's "Crucifixion" for Easter of that year. Subsequently, the performance was repeated at three different churches during the year. As invitations to sing at other events came in, the Ythan Singers was born. At that time the Musical Director was Gerald Hill followed by David Taylor, Jane Grime, and Alison Young for a short time. Morag Paton took over in 1988 and was the Musical Director for 28 years until May 2016. She was followed by Kathleen Cronie, a singing tutor and voice coach at the North East of Scotland Music School, and then by the return Alison Young, Musical Director of Ellon Parish Church. Our current Musical Director is Morag Simpson, who also conducts the Morven Singers, Kirkton Chorus, Thorngrove Singers, Coro Piccolo and Rotary Singers of Aberdeen.

The Ythan Singers’ accompanist is Rosemary Lund, who has been with the choir since it’s start in 1980.

Although based in Ellon, Ythan Singers performs in venues within reasonable travelling distance within Aberdeenshire and sometimes out with the area. The venues are varied ranging from Churches, National Trust properties, sheltered housing units and residential homes.

The repertoire of Ythan Singers is varied, from oratorios and other classical music, folk music, Scottish music, songs from the musicals and shows and semi pop music.

Getting involved

Ythan Singers are always actively seeking new voices to join us, like all choirs we particularly need tenors and basses but all voices are welcome. If you would like to join then contact Ythan Singers and we will send you more details. Joining the choir is easy. You don't need to be an experienced singer. If you can keep a tune, enjoy singing in general, are looking for something to do on a Monday evening, then you have all it takes to be made very welcome by the existing members. You don't have to know whether you are a soprano or an alto, a tenor or a bass. Our Musical Director will help you if you are unsure.

We do have an annual membership fee of £55, which goes towards the cost of musical scores, and any fees incurred.

We meet at Ellon Parish Church Kirk Centre, Station Road, Ellon, on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and are happy for anyone to come along and sit in before joining us. The Kirk Centre is next to Costcutters.

Ythan Singers is a charity registered in Scotland, Number SC038223.