Bothwell Philharmonic Choir’s charity concert raises £1600

Dec 31 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A TOTAL of £1600 was raised at Bothwell Philharmonic Choir’s annual Christmas charity concert.

It is to be shared between the Glasgow-based Preshal Trust and the Salvation Army’s North Edinburgh Street project.

Heavy snow didn’t deter 80 per cent of those who had bought tickets from attending the sell-out show at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow on Tuesday, December 22.

Proceedings, however, were delayed slightly while some of Gorgie Salvation Army Band, who came through from Edinburgh, waited for their instruments to arrive.

It was the choir’s ninth Christmas charity concert and appropriately featured the festive favourite ‘Let it Snow’.

The choir was led by musical director Mark Donnelly and the evening was compered by Gavin Pearson of Radio Clyde.

Special guest for the evening – entitled a Christmas Evening of Sheer Delight – was the mezzo soprano Aileen Sim.

She sang a selection of songs and John Pitcathley accompanied the choir on organ and piano.

The choir also sang works from Haydn and Rutter as well as seasonal favourites like Jingle Bells and Feliz Navidad.

Representatives from the Preshal Trust and the Salvation Army North Edinburgh Street Project were in attendance and each received a £800 cheque.