A concert by Lismore Voices – the island’s accomplished choir – celebrated the island’s talent and also raised funds for insulating the hall roof. The evening opened with the singers processing through the packed hall singing the round – “Da Pacem Domine” – which they followed with a huge variety of music from around the world which included English and Gaelic arrangements as well as folk music from Bulgaria and Macedonia, a 16th century madrigal, a setting of “Ubi Caritas” from Norway, a spiritual and African settings.
The choir has two alternating conductors, Sarah Campbell and Katie Crossan, the latter being a Gaelic speaker who mainly but not exclusively conducts the Gaelic music.
Lismore Voices
Lismore Voices
Throughout the evening choir items were interspersed with local singers and instrumentalists. Nine year old Katie Cook sang her winning Mod song as did thirteen year olds’ Shona wright and Sophie King. Adults Mary MacDougall and daughter Laura Cook sang in Gaelic and English, Sebastian Tombs accompanied himself on the guitar in a moving song he had written, Sarah Campbell sang with husband Yorick Payne and also a very lovely arrangement of Amazing Grace with Christina Cass.
Sebastian Tombs
Mary MacDougall
Laura Cook
Katie Cook
Shona and Katie
Freda Drysdale accompanied by the choir sang a Lismore version of Grainger’s English Country Garden, and Katie Crossan sang a Gaelic song accompanied on guitar by her daughter Shona Wright.
Arthur Cross and Duncan Ferguson
Breaking up the vocal music were two sets of lively instrumentals from Arthur Cross on the electronic flute with Duncan Ferguson on the accordion.
Congratulations to all for a wonderful evening.