A note from the Musical director

JAMES ROBERTSON

My wife and I moved to Alyth three years ago from Devon, where I have previously conducted Teign Choral Society (9 years), North Creedy Choral Society (2 years), The Exeter University Choral Society (1 year) and the Choirs of Plymtree Primary School (12 years).

I moved into choral conducting whilst also following  my career as a singer, where most of my work was involved as a soloist for Choral Societies. It began by accident, filling in for a friend at the last minute, some seventeen years ago. My basic training as a conductor was under the guidance of Gregory Rose, currently Professor of Conducting at Trinity College of Music in London. My training as a singer was with the well known baritone, John Carol Case OBE. and later with the ebullient Wynford Evans. I firmly believe that the use of the singing voice should always be imaginative, discovering the creative core of what the composer and writer were trying to express through the connection with the body of the singer; not only through the solo voice, but through the unity of the choral sound.

Thus my approach to realising the choral concert is towards all members of the choir finding the experience a personal as well as a collective fulfilment. Choral music, like all music, even during long rehearsals, should never be a chore, but a challenge, often joyful, sometimes moving and always worthwhile.

Alyth, 18th. August 2006