Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)

Singers aim to bring "Joy to the World" at their forthcoming Christmas concert on Monday 22 December at Glasgow City Halls.

The Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, are returning to a favourite setting this year. The Chorus is comprised of 90 members who are primarily from the Bishopbriggs inter-denominational church community.

The Grand Hall of Glasgow's City Halls has provided a great venue for the concert in past years and tickets for all the Grand Hall's 1000 seats have been sold!!!!

This concert is important for a number of reasons, not least its fund raising aspect.

It started in 2001 and has now raised a total of £46,000 for its chosen charity, the Children's Hospice Association Scotland.

The singers are supported for their Christmas concert by a 40-strong orchestra of professional musicians who give up their time for this on a voluntary basis.

A driving force of the event is musical director Alan Craig. 

Alan, is director of music at Langside College, Glasgow, and has introduced innovative music from the USA to blend with more familiar pieces and the Christmas carols which always herald lots of audience participation.

A spokesman for the Chorus said: "The object, in addition to fund raising, is to reach out to the community and bring together people of all denominations whose love of singing transcends religious boundaries. It also exists to entertain the community to a very high standard of music of a type which is seldom, if ever, heard in this country. The popularity of the music presented by the Chorus, accompanied by a full orchestra, strikes a chord with all ages and the audience spans the spectrum from the very young to senior citizens."

Article posted: 06/11/2008