Charity Christmas Concert – 7 December 2019

The long-awaited Christmas Concert took place in Ayr town hall last Saturday and what a spectacle it was! Almost every seat was taken despite the stormy weather and the show was certainly worth braving the elements to see and hear.

The event had been staged by our club together with the Salvation Army’s Ayr Community Church in order to raise funds for three nominated charities: Newton Primary School, Ayrshire Young Carers, and Abbas Rest (for the Malawi borehole project).

 

Overall control of the evening was with bandmaster and MC Bobby Irvine.

 

It is hard to single out specific highlights of the performance which was a wonderful festive mix of music and singing interspersed with short speeches on behalf of benefactors and contributors. The Community Choir were in excellent voice and their songs ranged from classic choral to an hilarious animated version of First Day of Christmassupported musically by the excellent Paisley Salvation Army Brass Band. . In addition to the traditional communal Christmas carols, the audience were treated to excellent renditions from Sophie Craig and Katie Carmichael who wowed the audience with their amazing trained voices. However, the hits of the night were undoubtedly the young pupils from Newton Primary School who performed a short selection of lovely Christmas songs (see and listen to the video) seemingly without nerves. Head teacher Fiona McAvoy said afterwards that the kids had further increased her pride in the school. She was followed by Major Linda Watson of the Community Church who had the children in the audience hanging on her every word as she opened her own make-believe Christmas presents

President Ieuan carried out his duties admirably, with his earlier introductions and later vote of thanks when he announced that the evening had raised the grand sum of £3,550. A great result from a concert which sent the audience singing its way out into the unabated storm.