WHAT’S THE STORY?
THE National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and after a torrid time with the pandemic, its regional choirs will roll into action over the next few days. Some 15 choirs in all, with a total membership of 1500 before Covid, will return to in-person rehearsals and concerts, observing all precautions.
HOW HAS THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND HELPED?
IT’S a heartening story. Since 1998 when NYCOS formed its first choirs, they have been rehearsing in schools, usually in partnership with the local education authorities in the area. With Covid uncertainty and the current Government guidelines in Scotland, many schools are not letting outside groups use their facilities – quite rightly, they want to keep the premises safe, healthy and secure for their own pupils.
Faced with this lack of venues, NYCOS turned to an institution it knew had many and varied premises across Scotland – the Church of Scotland – and asked if they could help.
A meeting followed at which high-level Kirk officials, including the current Moderator, former deputy first minister Lord Jim Wallace, promised to help. Churches in the regions where NYCOS was having difficulty were identified and over the coming weeks, nine of the regional choirs will be able to continue thanks to their help. The churches are Larbert Old Church, Lowson Memorial Church, Maxwelltown West, Mannofield Church, Springfield Church, Dunblane Cathedral, Polbeth Harwood Church, Paisley St. George’s and Rosewell Parish Church.
WHAT ELSE ARE NYCOS UP TO?
SOME 70 members recently travelled to Millport Field Studies Centre on Cumbrae from the four corners of Scotland and beyond to rehearse for three days in the most beautiful of scenery in stunning weather, preparing the national choir to return to performance at the highest level.
Marking its first performance since re-emerging from lockdown – unless you count BBC Breakfast – the National Youth Choir of Scotland will perform to audiences at the celebrated Lammermuir Festival on September 11 and September 18 at venues across East Lothian. A programme of classical favourites and traditional Scots songs will greet those turning out for the festival in Dunbar, Haddington, Stenton and Crichton Collegiate Church.
WHAT ARE NYCOS AND THE KIRK SAYING?
CHRISTOPHER Bell (above), who founded the choir in 1996 and remains artistic director, said: “There is nothing like the experience of singing in a choir with like-minded and talented peers. After almost 18 months singing online we were ready for a face to face return but having difficulty securing our usual venues. These creative solutions, including our wonderful partnership with the Church of Scotland, have been life savers for Scotland’s young singers.”
Lord Wallace, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “Recognising the importance of choir singing both musically and socially for Scotland’s young people, and the difficulties NYCoS was having in securing venues for its choirs to rehearse, I was delighted to encourage our congregations across the country to help accommodate these wonderful singers.”
TELL US ABOUT NYCOS
NYCOS was established in 1996 to provide a national infrastructure for young people, teachers and choir directors to support and develop choral singing in Scotland. It is recognised as one of the finest youth choirs anywhere.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here