The Royal National Mòd in Oban in 2015 was fantastic. The choir continued their success with a third placing in the Sheriff MacMaster Campbell competition for Rural Choirs. Our own choice piece composed by our Gaelic tutor, Alasdair MacIlleBhàin, and arranged by Mary Ann Kennedy, Musical Director of the Inverness Gaelic Choir. The song, Eilean na h-Òige, received a fantastic response from the audience and radio commentary team, of course, success was not limited to the choir performance.

Our stalwart Bass, Hector MacKechnie, was runner-up in the Men’s Gold Medal competition, a marvellous achievement for someone who only started competing at the National Mòd three years ago! The time and effort in preparing for competition must not been viewed lightly. It is an exhausting but rewarding challenge to shape a choir for performance. Encouraging and motivating individuals to have the confidence to realise their potential. Choir members are not only required to commit their music and words to memory but are also busy fundraising and organising events. We have already held Mr & Mrs, Generation Game, Quiz nights and a successful series of Producers Markets.

In February, the choir welcomed over 80 fellow choristers to Lochaline to attend the annual Rural Choirs workshop Ceòl nan Còisir. The workshop was led by Sìleas Sinclair, conductor of the prizewinning Oban Gaelic Choir. The workshop, and ceilidh dance which followed, was a great success and the choir was delighted that they were able to attract this event to the village and add to the local economy at a normally quiet time of the year.

Bùrach had the honour of representing Scotland in the Rural Choirs competition at the Pan Celtic Festival, held in Carlow Town in March of this year, competing against the other Celtic nations of Wales, Ireland, Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany, where we were placed second. A terrifying but enjoyable experience. Bùrach Beag (a smaller version of the choir) were also placed second in the Traditional Group section. The conductor of Lochs Gaelic Choir, Ronnie Murray, took up the baton for the Area Choirs competition where he led a 50+ strong Scottish choir, comprising choristers from all over Scotland, including Bùrach, to victory over strong Welsh competition. Riona Whyte and Raymond Bremner led the same choir to a very creditable 3rd place in the Accompanied Choir section with a goosebump inducing rendition of Cearcall a’ Chuain. Our Gaelic tutor, Alasdair MacIlleBhàin, also claimed victory in the new composition section. We attended the Ardnamurchan Provincial Mòd last month and performed our prescribed piece for the first time, receiving encouraging remarks from the adjudicators. One of whom told us it was time for a name change as we were certainly not a Bùrach!

Our Pre-season training will continue in August when Bùrach will gather for a residential workshop under the familiar leadership of Kenneth Thomson, conductor of the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association. Kenny has been a fantastic mentor for the choir since its inception and we have performed many of his arrangements over the past few years. This year we have chosen another of Kenny’s arrangements, this time a more sombre affair than followers of Bùrach will be accustomed to hearing. A lament with fabulous harmonies, that we hope Kenny can help us to fine-tune next month. It is very encouraging to see a continued growth in our numbers and we welcome Gordon Lindsay to our ranks this year.

To everyone who has offered support and encouragement this year, we thank you. Hopefully when we come to write the Bùrach letter in 2017 we can tell you about our continued improvement in Stornoway.