EDINBURGH: Freemasons' Hall

Sunday 10th December, 2023

2:30pm

Event information

The Glasgow Phoenix Choir is delighted to be returning to the Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh. The Glasgow Phoenix Choir rose out of the ashes of the world-famous Glasgow Orpheus Choir and year celebrates a total of 123 years of choral excellence. The choir is directed by our conductor, Cameron Murdoch. Cameron joined us in 1987 as Accompanist and Depute Conductor and is an Honours graduate in music from the University of Glasgow who also studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He regularly plays harpsichord and piano with various musical ensembles and performs throughout the British Isles. Cameron is also Organist and Choir Master of St. John’s Renfield Church in Glasgow’s West End. Many of the pieces in the current Phoenix repertoire were arranged by Cameron. The Glasgow Phoenix Choir performs over 20 concerts per year the majority of which raise money for charity and each involves a range of music from choral standards to new music and, in addition, we feature many delightful solo performances by choir members. Choir recordings receive regular play on local and national radio stations. Our most recent postcard CD, All in the April Evening, was recorded in St John’s-Renfield Church in Glasgow’s West End and released in April 2023. It forms part of the recent celebration of the choir’s Platinum Jubilee and features a new recording of the title song which is most associated with both the Phoenix and Orpheus choirs. In addition, it features the first recording of Opening, written by Bob Chilcott, our Honorary President, to commemorate that special anniversary and to looks to the future of the choir with hope for what is yet to come. Opening was a 70th anniversary commission made possible through the support of the Freemasons of Glasgow.

Our accompanist in this year’s season of Christmas concerts will be Matthew McIlree. Matthew is a regular accompanist with the choir. He is a recent graduate from the University of St. Andrews, where he completed both piano and organ scholarships alongside a degree in mathematics and computer science. He has been a multiple prize winner at both the Glasgow and Inverclyde music festivals, including twice winning the Glasgow Society of Organists' Trophy at the Glasgow open organ class; and three times winning the top piano award, as well the 2016 overall prize, in Inverclyde. He is now studying for his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Glasgow, alongside working freelance as a wedding musician and accompanist. Matthew can also be heard playing the organ as part of the daily recital programme at Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
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