Distant Voices at St Andrews
The 8th edition of St Andrews Voices, Scotland’s festival of vocal and choral music, is inevitably very different from its predecessors, but the programme on Saturday October 17 – which is designated World Singing Day – is an epic undertaking, with online happenings every hour from 7am to 10pm.
As well as events from St Andrews University, which hosts the festival, and particularly the new Laidlaw Music Centre, this St Andrews Voices links up with Glasgow and London, where The Sixteen under conductor Harry Christophers are the Virtual Ensemble-in-residence. The choir and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan will lead workshops as well as performing in St Augustine’s in Kilburn.
Other artists featured in the programme include folk singers Iona Fyfe and Hannah Rarity and beatboxer SK Shlomo. Tenor and broadcaster Jamie MacDougall will launch a two year project to create a new St Andrews Scots Songbook, honouring former Professor of Music Cedric Thorpe Davie and collectors of Scots songs including George McPhee, George McVicar and Frank Spedding.
The full 2020 programme of St Andrews Voices is available to view and experience at standrewsvoices.com