On Wednesday 3rd September the Instrumental Music Service were delighted to welcome the return of the IMS Vocal Day, which took place in the fantastic setting of Stonelaw Parish Church. The day featured 185 young vocalists from all South Lanarkshire’s secondary schools, working together to create a choir in a day. The day was led by former South Lanarkshire Instrumental Music Service student Andy McTaggart. Andy lectures in Voice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is a professional Baritone, singing across Great Britain and Ireland. Andy was assisted by 3 industry professionals who were there to cater for the range of voices from S4,5&6 singers.
The free and inclusive event was designed to support pupils progressing towards their SQA practical singing exam. Pupils grew in confidence throughout the day as they worked on vocal technique, developing the breath and honing performance skills. A rewarding byproduct of the day was witnessing the friendly social interaction between pupils who were meeting for the first time.
The atmosphere in the room was uplifting when the 185 strong choir commenced and the pupils were quickly in fine voice and learning the first song of the day, in Latin no less! This remarkable event showcased the depth and quality of singers we have across South Lanarkshire and, with the help of the professional choral team, the results were simply breath taking. The pupils were also captivated by a performance from the singers from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The day was a resounding success, culminating in a final performance to parents and carers.
The IMS would like to extend our thanks to all the pupils in attendance for their hardwork, excellent attitude and exemplary work ethic. We would also like to thank all Secondary Schools for their logistical help in making the day possible for the pupils, Stonelaw Church for hosting the event and our team of professional singers for their expert guidance on the day.
