Banchory, near Aberdeen on Royal Deeside is the home of Banchory Singers, an amateur choir for mixed voices. The choir was founded in 1984 by a Welsh couple, Marion and Viv Jenkins and the present day choir still has a few members from the original group.
Many in Banchory work in the oil industry and this results in much movement of members in and out of the choir; whilst also providing voices from all around the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands, as well as local inhabitants.
Our first Musical Director, Marion retired in 1995 and was replaced by Tara Leiper, music lecturer at Aberdeen Northern FE College. She was young ,talented and progressive, providing regular compositions and arrangements of her own for the choir's performances. She was keen for the choir to become more outward looking by establishing contacts with other choirs, with a view to performing joint concerts.
The choir has been supported several pianists over the years including David Shepherd, a composer and arranger in his own right. When Tara left, David, stepped into the limelight and has continued to nurture the choir through his own talent and enthusiasm.
Banchory Singers is a member of the National Association of Choirs and held a joint concert with the Scottish Concert Choir in Banchory in 1998.
In common with most amateur choirs, our repertoire ranges from classical to folk to modern and we perform in local concerts, festivals and charity events. We had a brief 'flirtation' with Sainsbury's Choir of the Year (preliminary round) and notably we support charity fund-raising. This has included concerts for the MacMillan Fund and the lead organising role for Banchory's contribution to BT Voices for Hospices. In the 1997 event, £1,070 was raised for the local Roxburghe House hospice.
Banchory Singers have benefited from two Lottery Awards under the Scottish Arts Council, Awards For All scheme. The first, in 1999 bought us a digital piano that helps in venues where we need to take an accompanying instrument. The second in 2000, provided high-quality portable staging. Both these awards will help the choir for the future as we try and expand our horizons.
Fran Musselwhite
September 2005
