Choir perform outside together for the first time in 14 months

A choir rose at the crack of dawn to perform outside together for the first time in 14 months as parts of Scotland moved to level two of the lockdown restrictions.

Members of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) gathered on Calton Hill in Edinburgh at 6am on Monday in celebration of the lockdown easing.

The 29 singers and conductor Christopher Bell performed Let All The World In Every Corner Sing by Vaughan Williams and Why We Sing by Greg Gilpin.

National Youth Choir of Scotland: Members performed on Calton Hill. National Youth Choir of Scotland

Mollie Quigley, who took part in the early morning rehearsal, said: “We are all excited to be back singing all together again.

“A lot of us have sung together for ten years and it is good to hear everyone finally back together again.

“On Zoom it doesn’t feel like you’re singing together, it feels isolated. This morning has been wonderful hearing everyone together again.”

The choir is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2021.

Choir: The singers performed for the first time together in 14 months. National Youth Choir of Scotland

Artistic director Mr Bell, who founded the choir in 1996, said: “It has been incredibly hard to not be able to truly nurture the talent that exists here in Scotland over these past 14 months, and to see the effect that not being able to meet and sing has had on our wonderful singers/musical family.

“Being part of NYCOS and being able to sing with their peers from across the country is an incredibly important part of their young lives, with all the health, development and wellbeing benefits that singing brings.

“It is a huge relief and delight to be back together making music here this morning on Calton Hill and we look forward to popping up across Scotland in outdoor locations for rehearsals with the various regional choirs in Aberdeen, Highland, Dumfries, Glasgow and here in Edinburgh.

“Hopefully those passing by will get a wonderful surprise.”