Choir Members - Còisir Ghàidhlig An Eilein Duibh
Black Isle Gaelic Choir

The Black Isle Gaelic Choir was founded just after the second lockdown in April 2021 by a group of singers who really missed the connection and camaraderie of a choir throughout the pandemic, and who wanted to perform and promote the Gaelic language and culture through music but in a relaxed, fun and light hearted way. Initially, the choir rehearsed via Zoom for a couple of months until Covid guidelines allowed them to meet up safely outdoors. Their first live rehearsal was a socially distanced affair in their conductor’s garden on Tuesday, 1st June 2021. The highlight of the choir’s calendar is performing at the Royal National Mòd in October each year. They were fortunate to lift the coveted Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy in Perth in 2022 on their first attempt at competition and were also awarded the John McNicol Memorial Trophy for the highest marks in Gaelic in the same competition.

Rehearsals

  • The choir have weekly hybrid rehearsals on Tuesday evenings between 7pm and 8.30pm in the Ferintosh Village Hall, Easter Kinkell to prepare for performances and join together in sharing their love of Gaelic culture and songs. They also have weekend workshops throughout the year because although the choir largely consists of singers from the Black Isle and surrounding area, there are a small number who live further afield, so the weekend workshops are an ideal opportunity for them to travel and rehearse in person with the rest of the choir. The Black Isle Gaelic Choir is led by Mòd Gold Medallist and Music Teacher Kirsteen Menzies who has over 30 years’ experience with Gaelic choirs, and its Gaelic Tutor is Steven MacIver, also a Mòd Gold Medallist with vast experience in the Gaelic language and culture. Despite being a relatively new choir, they have very quickly established a unique choral bond through friendship and songs, which is, in fact, their choir motto – ‘Cairdeas ‘s Òrain’.

Location