The 1980’s
Banchory Singers founded in 1984 by Marion and Viv Jenkins
April 1988 East Church Vivaldi Gloria
Christmas Concert 1989
The 1990’s
The choir celebrated 10 years with an Anniversary Concert and Ceilidh. They performed with the Banchory Youth Singers, Banchory Academy’s Brass Ensemble and The Aberdeen College Brass Ensemble and supported the Banchory Swimming Pool fund.
Sing We Christmas Concert 1990
Sing We Christmas Concert Programme 1990
Trial by Jury 1991
10th Anniversary Concert 1994
10th Anniversary Concert Programme
The Choir and Banchory Academy’s Brass Ensemble rehearsing in readiness for their Christmas Concert in 1994
Marion Jenkins is presented with a gift in recognition of her 10 years as musical director, 1995
10th Birthday Ceilidh 1995
Sing A Rainbow Concert 1996
Sing A Rainbow Concert Programme 1996
BT Voices for Hospices Choir in East Church 1997 (Jim Henderson)
Spring Concert 1997
Spring Concert Programme 1997
Christmas Concert 1997
Christmas Concert Programme 1997
Spring Concert 1999
Christmas Concert Programme 1999
A Musical Trip Through Time Christmas Concert 1999
A Musical Trip Through Time Christmas Concert Programme 1999
The 2000’s
During this decade the Norwegian choir Sydvestkoret and Cassdorf Gospel Choir from Germany visited and sung with the Singers. With a return trip made to Germany to sing with the Cassdorf Gospel Choir. The choir marked its 25th anniversary with specially written songs by the musical director.
BT Voices for Hospices 2000 Rehearsals
Music For May Concert 2000
Music For May Concert Programme 2000
Spring Concert May 2001 Banchory Town Hall
Spring Concert May 2001 with Aberdeenshire Young Musicians of the Year finalists for 2001
Music in the garden at the Tor-Na-Coille hotel in aid of the Archie Foundation May 2002
Banchory Singers Spring Concert 2003
Banchory Singers Spring Concert Programme 2003
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert 2003
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert Programme 2003
Cassdorf Gospel Choir May 2004 read more
Medieval Fayre 2004
Banchory Singers visit Germany July 2005 read more
Norwegian choir Sydvestkoret May 2006 read more
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert 2006
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert Programme 2006
Banchory Singers Spring Concert 2007
Banchory Singers Spring Concert Programme 2007
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert 2008
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert Programme 2008
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert 2008
Inverurie Singing Festival March 2009
Banchory Singers Spring Concert 2009
Banchory Singers Spring Concert Programme 2009
Original members of the Banchory Singers celebrating the 25th Anniversary
Banchory Singers Christmas Concert 2009
Celebrating 25 years since formation the choir performed two specially written songs arranged by Musical Director Tara Leiper
The 2010’s
Banchory Singers sung Gilbert & Suvillan’s The Gondoliers, performed Faure Requiem in it’s entirety and recorded a CD. There were several performances of Pirates of Penzance and fund raising in aid of Banchory Sports Village and The British Legion.
Spring Concert 2010 featuring excerpts from Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’
Spring Concert Programme 2010
Christmas Concert 2010
Christmas Concert Programme 2010
Spring Concert 2011
Spring Concert Programme 2011
Christmas Concert 2011
Christmas Concert Programme 2011
Scott Skinners Square 2012
Christmas Concert 2012
Christmas Eve at Raemoir Garden Centre 2012
Spring Concert Banchory Town Hall 2013
The performance included Faure Requiem in its entirety the first time the choir had attempted an entire work. Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, Eonia by John Tavener and the final piece Handel’s Zadok The Priest.
Scott Skinner Square Banchory River Festival June 2013
Christmas Concert Programme 2013
Christmas Concert December 2014 live recording for CD
Pirates of Penzance March 2014 see more
Christmas Concert 2014
Christmas Concert Programme 2014
Saturday 28th March 2015 was a busy day for our conductor Tara Leiper as she rehearsed the choir and many other singers for the whole of Purcell’s King Arthur. An evening performance with a small instrumental group was held at Banchory East Church. Choral soloists were drawn from the choir, many singing ‘solo’ for the first time. In all a very rewarding day to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Banchory Singers
May 2015 we held our Spring concert a musical menu where our audience helped choose the program from a ‘menu’ of 40 different songs.
Big Singout at the East Church in aid of the Banchory Sports Village October 2015
Fundraising support for HomeStart at the British Legion November 2015
Celebration of Song Concert May 2016
A Celebration of Song May 2016
Festive Concert 2016
Handing over a donation to Banchory Sport Village May 2017
Spring Concert May 2017
Festive Concert 2017
Festive Concert 2019
The 2020’s
The Covid-19 pandemic saw Banchory Singers hold their first virtual festive concert
When the first COVID lockdown hit, our musical director, Tara Leiper, was quick to sound us out about continuing to meet and rehearse online using Zoom. Although none of us knew how this might work most of the choir were keen to give it a try. Read more
Our first Virtual Festive Concert 2020
Virtual May Concert 2021
This Christmas Singing’s Coming Home Festive Concert 2021
Spring Concert 2022
Spring Concert Programme 2022
The small group from the choir who sang In Flander’s Fields at the 2022 Banchory remembrance service.
Festive Concert 2022
Festive Concert Programme 2022
Spring Concert 2023
Spring Concert Programme 2023
Festive Concert 2023
Festive Concert Programme 2023
History of the Choir
The choir was founded in 1984 by a Welsh couple, Marion and Viv Jenkins and the present day choir still has a few members from the original group.
Our first Musical Director, Marion retired in 1995 and was replaced by Tara Leiper, music lecturer at Aberdeen Northern FE College. She was young, talented and progressive, providing regular compositions and arrangements of her own for the choir’s performances. She was keen for the choir to become more outward looking by establishing contacts with other choirs, with a view to performing joint concerts.
The choir has been supported by several pianists over the years including David Shepherd, a composer and arranger in his own right. In due course Tara moved on (temporarily!) and allowed David, to step into the limelight and he continued to nurture the choir through his own talent and enthusiasm. The tradition of enthusiasm was then picked up by Angela Foster, who was our musical director from 2005 – 2008. Since then we have been delighted to welcome back Tara, who is our current Musical Director.
Banchory Singers is a member of the National Association of Choirs and held a joint concert with the Scottish Concert Choir in Banchory in 1998.
In common with most amateur choirs, our repertoire ranges from classical to folk to modern and we perform in local concerts, festivals and charity events. We had a brief ‘flirtation’ with Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year (preliminary round) and notably we support charity fund-raising.
Many in Banchory work in the oil industry and this results in much movement of members in and out of the choir; whilst also providing voices from all around the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands, as well as local inhabitants.
Banchory Singers have benefited from two Lottery Awards under the Scottish Arts Council, Awards For All scheme. The first, in 1999 bought us a digital piano that helps in venues where we need to take an accompanying instrument. The second in 2000, provided high-quality portable staging. Both these awards will help the choir for the future as we try and expand our horizons.