Stirling city choir

On the 12th September 1951, Derrick Cantrell addressed a meeting of singers in the Fellowship Hall, Craigs, Stirling. He enthusiastically confirmed that “ A number of singers had been tested and there was a potential membership of over eighty.” A draft Constitution was adopted and the first Chairman was appointed - Col. John Logan.

And so the ‘Choral Union’ was formed with its first concert being a performance of ‘Messiah’ on the 26th December 1951, with Derrick Cantrell conducting an orchestra of 18 players from Glasgow and a choir of ‘100 voices’. Soloists were Joan Packer, Ruth Morrison, Duncan Robertson and Frederic Westcott.

By 1954 under the baton of Roy Lennox, the choir had become established in the life of Stirling and has remained so over the years, conducted by Bramwell Cook, Henry Havergal, Stuart Anderson, George Farmer, Richard Halliday, once again George Farmer, Richard Galloway, and currently, Eric Dunlea. A policy of engaging young soloists has been encouraged including Patricia McMahon, Kathleen Livingstone, Neil Mackie and Margaret Anne Marshall all of whom are enjoying successful careers in the music world. The welcome close liaison with professional orchestral players in Central Scotland has always ensured a first class orchestra for our Spring Concerts.

In the year 2002, after celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stirling and District Choral Union with a performance of the Scottish Premiere of ‘Christus’ by Franz Liszt, jointly with Falkirk Festival Chorus, it was decided, in keeping with the new city status of Stirling, we should also modernise and become Stirling City Choir.

People

Stirling City Choir is currently being led by Musical Director Eric Dunlea, and rehearsals are accompanied by Laura Baxter.

Eric was born in Cork City in the Republic of Ireland . He Studied at the local Municipal School with Frank Lacey and later at University College Cork, before taking a post-graduate course in trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Sidney Ellison. Eric worked with the Radio Telefís Éireann Symphony Orchestra in Dublin and the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra before coming to Glasgow in 1979 to join the BBC Scottish Symphonic Orchestra.

Eric has played with many of the leading British orchestras and under some wonderful conductors, including Gunter Wand, Mariss Jansens, Simenov Sinaisky, Nello Santi, Alexander Gibson, Jerzy Maksymiuk and Ilan Volkov. He enjoys working with some fine young musicians at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama Junior Department, where he studied conducting with Martyn Brabbins. For the past five years Eric has conducted for Stirling City Choir and he became conductor of St James Orchestra in in Paisley in 2002.

Laura graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2003, principally as a piano accompanist. During her studies Laura developed a fervent interest in contemporary music and its many forms.

Laura began her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy as a solo pianist, under the tuition of Jean Hutchison and Fali Pavri, but she soon became highly interested and involved in accompanying and chamber music. During her degree she performed regularly in the Glasgow University Concert series, playing with the locally-based contemporary music ensemble, "Symposia". Laura also became prominent performing recitals with many chamber ensembles and soloists.

In the early stages of her course she began studying electroacoustic composition with Dr. Alastair Macdonald and decided to pursue this avenue throughout her remaining time at the RSAMD. As part of her final year portfolio, she worked with John Harris and Simon Yuill to create electroacoustic material from various recordings and concerts, intended for use in the redevelopment of the Paragon Ensemble's website. This collaboration has evolved into the "PET" project.

In December 2002, Laura was awarded a place and scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied as a piano accompanist with Iain Ledingham and Michael Young. She graduated in 2005 and now works as a freelance piano accompanist throughout Britain.