Forres Chorale and Forres Youth Choir perform Christmas concert at St John's Church
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FORRES Chorale and Forres Youth Choir helped create a Christmas spirit with the help of a sell-out audience at a festive event in St John’s Church.
The concert on Saturday December 10 - which also featured solo performances - was enjoyed by over 100 attendees joining in on carols and popular Christmas songs.
The evening was organised by Reverend Dr Hamilton Inbadas who runs the Forres Youth Choir with support from music teacher and pianist, Heather Sim, as well as Forres Chorale conductor Brian Smith.
Rev Inbadas said: “We had a wonderful evening.
“It was fantastic to see our young choir and Forres Chorale coming together for a second time to perform.
“Both choirs were only set up last Autumn.
“This was the first time they have performed together in a Christmas concert, an event which is always uplifting.
“We were delighted it was sold out.”
He added: “We have a strong choral music tradition in Forres but there was nothing specifically for young people. “Music, and in particular, choral music, is a multi-dimensional gift which gives a unique and invaluable experience.
“If you get this experience at a young age you will cherish it for the rest of your life.
“The Forres Youth Choir now provides that opportunity.”
The Youth Choir’s first performance celebrated the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee when they sang ‘A Life Lived With Grace’, the commonwealth anthem written to honour the event.
“Both choirs have come a long way in a relatively short time” said Rev Inbadas.
“We have a good number of singers who cover a great range.
“It was great to see two of the younger members, Ned Peppe and Eva Exon, taking on solo parts and we are always delighted for the younger singers to come together with the older members.
“It is a great experience for all.”
Instrumental solos by Edward Clark on the Cello and Grace Cole on the piano added to a wonderful musical evening.
Brian Smith has been the organist and choirmaster at St John’s for over six years. As well as conducting the Forres Chorale, he has also recently taken on the role of conductor of the Buckie Choral Union.
He said: “The size of the audiences for our concerts proves that there is a real desire to support choral events in Forres. This encourages us to plan further events at St John’s, with an emphasis on opportunities to perform for younger musicians.
“The concert certainly brought the Christmas spirit to the town.”
