Since its formation in 1968, the Scottish Chamber Choir has performed throughout Scotland and Northern England to great acclaim. Each season the choir presents four concerts in Edinburgh, climaxing with an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. These are usually supplemented by a Christmas concert and guest appearances at local Music Societies and Festivals throughout the year, keeping members quite busy!
The choir, which has around thirty members, sings both shorter items from the chamber choir repertoire and more extended works, such as the Bach B minor Mass at our Festival Fringe concert in 2001. Whilst some concerts are given a cappella, at others we are joined by a variety of instrumental forces, making possible an exceptional freedom of programming and great interest for both participants and audience.
Since 1998, the choir’s Musical Director has been Michael Harris, Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. Michael is also a lecturer at the Ian Tomlin School of Music in Napier University, Edinburgh and Director of the Edinburgh Organ Academy, an annual springtime course founded in 1998.
The choir’s Edinburgh performances usually take place in St Giles’ Cathedral, where there is the added attraction of the magnificent Rieger organ as an accompanying or solo instrument. The choir's Festival Fringe concert normally takes place in St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.
Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Napier University Ian Tomlin School of Music recital room at Craighouse, Morningside. The fifteen-minute coffee break half-way through the evening is much appreciated!