St Giles' Cathedral Choir
The Choir of St Giles' Cathedral is an adult choir of thirty singers drawn from a wide variety of walks of life from the City of Edinburgh and further afield. Their main task is the singing of the two Sunday morning choral services, the 10 o'clock Holy Communion and the 11.30 Morning Service, under the direction of The Master of the Music, Michael Harris. In addition to this they sing on many special civic and national occasions, such as the Installations of the Order of the Thistle.
Whilst the raison d'être of the choir is the leading of the worship in St Giles' Cathedral, from time to time the choir undertakes outside engagements, as well as joining with the choirs of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, and Paisley Abbey for an annual joint Evensong.
In 2004 they undertook their first foreign tour, to the USA, and a number of the singers also gave a concert in Athens in the spring of 2005. In October 2006 they gave concerts in a number of venues in the Pyrenees.
They have broadcast on many occasions over the years on both radio and television, including BBC Choral Evensong.
Their most recent CD recordings include Hail, gladdening light, released in 2010 and I was glad; the sound of Psalms released in June 2008; this is a varied programme of anthems based on texts from the Psalms. Previous recordings include An Edinburgh Celebration, featuring much of the music from the 2004 USA Tour; other recordings include Sounds of St Giles' and a recording of Christmas Carols, Christmas at St. Giles'.
2009 Tour to Canada and USA
In the summer of 2009 the choir visited Canada and the USA, singing in a number of major cathedral venues, including in the cities of Hamilton, Kingston and Buffalo, and concluding with a concert in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Toronto.
2011 Tour to Italy
In July 2011 the choir travelled to the Veneto region of northern Italy, giving concerts in Vicenza and Mantua, as well as in the Duomo S Lorenzo in Abano, near Padua.
Wednesday 6 July 9pm
Vicenza - Instituto Proti, Contra Giampetro Proti
Thursday 7 July 9pm
Mantua – Museum San Sebastiano
Friday 8 July 9pm
Abano-Terme – Duomo San Lorenzo
