Alan hits the high notes with Caledon

Sep 18 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A LANARKSHIRE singer has been making his mark as a member of Caledon, Scotland’s very own answer to the ‘Three Tenors’.

Bellshill-born Alan Beck is one of the trio, who have fabulous voices, wear orange kilts and sing famous Scottish songs.

He has performed in front of a 50,000 football crowd at Hampden Park with a stirring, new version of ‘Flower of Scotland’ and has graced the stage of the world-famous Sydney Opera House.

Alan, who has been involved in singing from an early age, was a member of the Lanarkshire Youth Orchestra under conductor Jim McLean, from Hamilton.

He toured the county with the orchestra and also sang in concerts, including the Hamilton Youth Festival.

He left the orchestra and headed for opera school in London where he met fellow tenors Jamie MacDougall and Ivan Sharpe. They later formed Caledon.

So far, their highlights have included performing in front of the Queen at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and for United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan at the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture at the UN headquarters in New York.

Alan said: “We're looking forward so much to getting around Scotland again.

“It's always great to be in front of your own - our Scottish audience who, from the very start, have been so loyal to us and terrific at getting the word out about us. We are indebted to each and every one of them. I am once again delighted to be performing on home turf.”

Caledon’s Always To Be Here Tour will see the guys perform the length and breadth of their homeland - from Dumfries to Strathpeffer and Galashiels to Campbeltown.

They are set to appear at Motherwell Concert Hall on Thursday, September 25.

The programme will include a selection of songs from their new album, including Amazing Grace, Mull of Kintyre, Scots Wha Hae and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

The trio will also perform a selection of Scottish pop hits including The Proclaimers’ 500 Miles.

Tickets for Caledon’s concert at the Civic Centre are currently available from the Box Office on 01698 403120.