Singers invited to get InChorus with the choir

A Borders choir that has wowed audiences across the country is opening its doors to new members as it builds a vibrant future.

InChorus was launched in Peebles in 2008 and has brought together well over 100 singers from across the age spectrum in nearly two decades.

The choir would welcome new members, inviting anyone who enjoys singing to come and swell their ranks.

placeholder image — The choir would welcome new members, inviting anyone who enjoys singing to come and swell their ranks.

Well known across the Borders, InChorus has performed at everything from T in the Park to the Edinburgh Fringe and in 2011 represented Scotland in New York, singing at the 10th anniversary commemorations of 9/11.

Its most recent performance was in the impressive St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, where they performed a typically varied ranging from Verdi to the Proclaimers in a ‘St Giles at Six’ concert.

Performing in St Giles was a thrill for the choir, who have a number of local events in the coming months.

InChorus events manager Karen McCusker said: “That was a special night and it was great to see so many familiar faces in the audience, but also lots of new people that possibly just wandered up to St Giles, heard us and came in, which was wonderful!

“Everybody enjoyed it and the acoustics in St Giles are amazing; hearing our singing in a place like that just blows your mind.”

The choir will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2028, and it is currently inviting anyone who enjoys singing to come and swell their ranks, with a special appeal for men to add to the bass, baritone and tenor sections. They have been advertising on social media for ‘shower sopranos, kitchen crooners and karaoke kings’ to join in with their mix of modern classics, current pop songs and Scottish favourites, and stress that beginners are particularly welcome.

“We have all been beginners at some stage,” added Karen. "We love to encourage people new to a choir to just join the fun at Monday rehearsals and build up the confidence to be part of our performances. It doesn’t usually take very long.

The InChorus choir in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh for their recent concert, performing everything from Verdi to the Proclaimers.

“With all the tech and screens around us now, I find the choir a great opportunity to switch off and get out and connect with people. It has a great community feel and the endorphin rush when we all get it right is amazing; you come away very happy.

“The mental health benefits of singing are well documented. One of the reasons I got into it was I lived in Cardrona for just over 20 years but my friendships were all at work, and when we started working more from home I wanted to get to know more people and be able to bump into friends in the town. InChorus has given me that. I’ve just passed my third anniversary and I now have a real network of friends, and that’s what InChorus is all about for me.”

The choir has some local events coming up, with the big Christmas concert at the end of November a favourite. Last year’s collaboration with the Peebles Orchestra in a ‘Night at the Musicals’ is also sparking new collaborations and the concert will follow the light switch-on in Peebles High Street.

For more information, follow InChorus in Facebook, or just turn up at 7.30pm on Monday evenings at St Andrew’s Leckie Hall in Peebles.