Homepage President Chronicler Photographs My music History Videos Contact PresidentA Message from The PresidentWelcome to the home of Guth nan Eilean, the Victoria Gaelic Choir. Founded in 1997, our choir has continued to grow steadily over the years and currently our membership is about 30 members. We have a talented and energetic music director Jan Beckett, and Ann Reilly, our Gaelic tutor, speaks the beautiful and precise language of South Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland.We sing music arranged in four-part harmony; some of which was adapted from the original music of a rock group called Runrig, but much of the music dates from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. We sing Orain Mòra, the great songs of the Highland aristocracy, labour songs for the fulling of cloth, and puirt-a-beul, mouth music for dancing. We sing love songs and comic songs, and our music can be tragically sad or foot-tapping fast. One of the choir's favourite songs is Griogal Cridhe (Beloved Gregor), a lament for a MacGregor who was executed in 1570. Every year we learn new songs and maintain old ones.We encourage you to contact us and attend a practice or two. We are a happy choir and welcome new people as members or friends of the choir. We give a concert or cèilidh every year and perform at many venues such as the Highland Games in Victoria, seniors' homes, Burns Suppers, Pipers' Club, etc. The choir has been to the Royal National Mòd, a competitive music festival in Scotland, several times, and won the Margrat Duncan Memorial Trophy. One of the songs we sang 'Tighinn do dh'Ameireaga' was composed in Canada and arranged by our former conductor, Douglas Hodgkinson. We hope to go to Scotland again soon.We welcome singers of all kinds at all ages and stages. Fluency to read Gaelic is not necessary nor is an ability to read music, but you will pick up some ability in both. We provide sheets in staff notation, translations and pronunciation guides as well as CDs with Gaelic pronunciation and music for each part.Far am bi ceòl, cha bhi mìothlachd.Where there is music, there is no strife.Dùrachdan,Sharron GunnPresidentVictoria Gaelic Choir Dear Choir, With regard to the Hallowe'en Ceilidh at Brentwood Bay, many people said they enjoyed the variety and quality of performance immensely. I agree. We had some guest talent which was very good, but the entertainment was mostly ourselves. Tark was a favourite with his solo and sing-a-long. Three duets! Beautiful. And the choir did so well with the new songs!Sorry to those folks who had no time to sing their solos. Next time!Thanks to all who turned out. It was great to see lots of people thereearly to set-up and lots of people again who were there to clean up. Gordon and Ann were there at the beginning and they stayed till the end. Plus Ann worked like a Trojan in the kitchen. Jan conducted and swept the whole hall at the end. Our magic salewomen Irena and Katrinka sold a huge number of tickets and we made over $400 on the raffle. The Toonie Toss Dollie (compliments of Thelma) made $66.00. Wow. So many people did so much and it is very much appreciated. The choirwill be here for many years with so many willing hands. See you Wed. Sharron Need to contact the Gaelic choir? Phone:President: 250 656 2590Vice President: 250 592-2608Treasurer: 250 652-5122 To see all content, you will need the current version of Adobe Flash Player to view it. |
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