Season’s greetings!
Thank you to everyone who supported our concert of Carols and Christmas Music at St Margaret’s Memorial RC Church on Saturday 19 December. Despite the inclement weather, and the clash with the final of Strictly, we attracted a good-size audience, and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks too to all who took part, both on-stage and off, and especially to Willie Campbell who organised the programme (and even arranged some of the music), led our rehearsals, conducted our choir, and accompanied the evening on keyboard and organ. He hopes Santa will be bringing him a pair of roller skates, to shorten the transit time between organ stool and podium!
Everyone in the Society wishes all our patrons a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We hope to see you at Carnegie Hall at the end of February for our next production. Yeomen of the Guard will be something special to look forward to in 2016!
Profitable carols!
Next week’s rehearsals
Christmas is coming up fast, and there are some wee changes to what’s in the schedule, so I thought I would just confirm what’s happening next week:
On Monday 14 December all but the two principals who have given apologies are expected, the plan being to work on the detail of the Act 1 Finale, and also to recap as much as is possible.
The full cast rehearsal on Wednesday 16 December, which will recap Act 1, will start at 7.30pm and not 7.00pm as on the schedule, but the rehearsal will finish at 9.00pm, so people can catch trains or get to the Christmas meal.
However, if you are taking part in the Carol concert, there is an opportunity for soloists and groups who want to practice to come on Wednesday at 7.00pm. On Saturday 19 December, please arrive for 6.15pm prompt to start singing as quickly as possible – we can’t get in until Mass finishes around 6.10.
Wednesday 9 December
Willie has asked me to let everyone know that there will not be a chorus rehearsal for the Christmas Concert tomorrow (9 December). However, there will be small group/solo rehearsal opportunities for those who want.
If, in view of the bridge situation, you’re uncertain about coming for the Yeomen rehearsal at 7:30pm, you’ll be pleased to hear that last night’s principal rehearsal went ahead as planned, with almost everyone there. Our gallant Edinburgh cast members braved the train, those from Stirling and Falkirk coped with the road diversions, and we had an enjoyable time. All we need for the Act 1 finale tomorrow is for you all to remember that you may need to start out earlier in order to be on parade on time!
Enjoy us carolling!
By Saturday 19 December you should be in Christmas mood, so do come to our concert of Carols and Christmas Music at St Margaret’s Memorial RC Church in East Port, Dunfermline. The concert starts at 7:30pm, but we suggest coming early to get a good seat. Tickets £6 will be available at the door. We were in fine voice at the concert at Oakley on Saturday 5 December, so you can expect an enjoyable evening.
If you can’t wait that long, come to the Tesco store at Duloch on Saturday 12 December, where we’re singing carols at the entrance from 11.00am, with three sessions of just under an hour each. Proceeds from that will be going to Whitefield as usual.
Winter wanderings
The KOS Christmas Concert is usually good entertainment, especially for children who will enjoy Paddington Bear’s First Concert, and a wide variety of music is on offer: click the image for a link to the poster with details. Tickets are £8 and £4 for children. Two performances, at 2.00pm and 3.45pm, with most tickets available for the first concert.
Music on Sundays
The winter programme of quality live music presented by the Dunfermline Arts Guild continues in the Carnegie Hall at 7.30pm on Sunday 17 January with a piano recital by the young Latvian pianist Arta Arnicane, in a programme which includes works by Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Ravel. John Lill says: “Her totally secure, innate authority is matched by her deeply considered and often profound approach during her performances, far removed from much of the more shallow and superficial playing that abounds nowadays.”
Concert details for the whole season can be downloaded at this link. Talk to Martin Tarr or Jean Kennedy if you want to get a feel for how good these concerts are.
Next appearance
Your next chance to see the Society on stage at Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline will be on 19–21 February 2026 in a sparkling production of Strictly Patience.
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