14 March update: We have just received the information that “Due to the rapidly changing situation with the coronavirus outbreak and concerns for the health of our audience and orchestra members, Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society has taken the decision to postpone its concerts planned for Friday 20 March at St Columba’s School, Dunfermline and Sunday 22 March at the Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy. Once the current situation stabilises, it is hoped that it will be possible to announce dates later in the year when the concerts will be performed.”

Only £5 to see Fife’s Community Orchestra  (Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society) in Dunfermline at 7.30pm on Friday 20 March at St Columba’s RC High School.

What a bargain! Varied programme: a Mozart Horn Concerto; a specially commissioned Concerto for Orchestra by John Gourlay (oboist in our HMS Pinafore orchestra) plus other music to showcase the instrument families within the large orchestra. More details if you click the image.

Ellen Patrick says it’s sounding good! (You can pay £9 a ticket for the Old Kirk of Kirkcaldy concert on Sunday 22 March if you prefer)

Support The Soko Fund’s work in Malawi, and enjoy a rare opportunity to hear (or even sing in!) Dvorak’s Mass in D minor conducted by John Kitchin at St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh on 29 February – rehearsals 2.00–5.00pm; concert at 6.00pm. Details on the flier linked to the image.

Bunthorne’s words come to mind: “Come, walk up, and purchase with avidity, overcome your diffidence and natural timidity, tickets … should be purchased with rapidity … – Such an opportunity may not occur again!”

While current company members themselves won’t be able to come – busy rehearsing! – hopefully others of you will be interested in a concert that Alison Pendlowski wanted you to hear about. She’ll be singing in the choir, and Nancy Crook, one of our next rehearsal pianists, is directing, so it’ll be an enjoyable evening.

As part of the Dunfermline Carnegie Library’s “Tae a Bard” exhibition, Ivor Klayman and the Queen Anne Singers are putting on “A Burn’s Sangfest” on Wednesday 22 January at 7.00pm in the Canmore Room at the Library. It’s a revival of the show about Burns and his songs that John Cairney wrote and performed for many years with the vocal quartet The Quatrain for whom Nancy Crook was the accompanist, but performed this time by Ivor Klayman and the Queen Anne Singers under the direction of Nancy Crook. It includes a brief history of Burns in narration, readings using in his own words and, of course, many of his songs

More details about “Tae a Bard” in the linked leaflet (though there are some typos), and you can get the £10 tickets for the Sangfest from the Library or on-line at this link.

To get you in the mood for the DGASS Christmas meal at the Pitbauchlie Hotel, fly through the air with some of the HMS Pinafore orchestra at the Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society’s Christmas concert(s): 2.00pm and 4.00pm at the Old Kirk of Kirkcaldy, on Sunday 15 December.

As well as carols, we’ll be playing “The Snowman”, dances from “La Fille Mal Gardee”, and “Queen in Concert”.

Tickets (£9 adults/£4 children) from Ellen Patrick or via kirkcaldyorchestralsociety@gmail.com or by phoning 07770 332812.

7.30pm on Saturday 26 October provides charitably-minded members of the Society with two opportunities to enjoy live music: in different places, and in different genres.

At Limekilns Parish Church, you can listen to a wide range of music for soprano, violin and piano in aid of the Return to Life Charity, that aims to provide support for those with chronic kidney disease. More details about the music and the charity by clicking the image on the left.

At Pathhead Church, Kirkcaldy, East Fife Male Voice Choir are joined by Colwyn Male Voice Choir for an eagerly awaited return joint concert, following East Fife’s visit to North Wales last October. This concert is in aid of Haiti Help, a local charity well-known to us.

Vince Gray, for many years the leader of the orchestra that accompanies our shows, is also heavily involved in Cromlit’s Lilt, an string ensemble that is offering “Baroque Serendipity” at their next concerts!

This year, their Dunfermline late Summer concert is taking place at the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, who are hoping to expand the use of the Museum to accommodate musical events, so do head to Moodie Street at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 August for Cromlit’s choice of pieces by Handel, Vivaldi, and other well-known composers. Click the image for a downloadable poster with a listing.

Tickets are £8 (£6 concession). Reservations can be made by calling 01383 724302 or emailing events@carnegiebirthplace.com. Cash payment must be made on the night.

If you miss their Dunfermline gig, Cromlit’s will be repeating the concert in The Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy on Sunday 15 September at 7.00pm.

Kirkcaldy Gilbert and Sullivan Society is holding an 80th Anniversary Concert on Friday 7 June at 7.30pm in the Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy.

We are promised a lovely, varied programme which will be hugely enjoyable.

[Cath Tate Cards have just the birthday card for our friends at KGASS. Entitled “80 at last!”, the message continues “Now you can forget growing old gracefully” … ]