Lewis choir's major success as Rural competitions get under way
The rural choir champions have been crowned this morning as Còisir Ghàidhlig nan Loch from Lewis walked away as the big winners.
In the Ladies Rural Choirs, the islanders walked away with all the awards for Gaelic, Music and overall - although shared the Gaelic prize with fellow Lewis choir Còisir Sgìr’ a’ Bhac.
Just ten minutes later it was time to announce the results of the morning’s Rural Choirs Puirt-à-beul contest at Corran Halls, where, unbeknownst to them, Còisir Ghàidhlig nan Loch came out on top yet again.
The choir, which was still at St John’s Cathedral for another competition, have certainly stole the show this morning - and now have the silverware to go with their impressive performances.
The choir’s conductor Ronald Murray says he is overjoyed at the results.
He said: “I’m extremely proud at this moment, they’ve [the choir] just been fantastic.
“They’ve worked really hard all year and it’s all culminated in this.
“Today’s the first day we’ve been here, it’s our second competition. We sang in the Puirt in the morning, don’t know how we got on there, but we’ve won this and we have a full day ahead.
“I’m looking forward to singing well, finishing our competitions and then letting our hair down.”
There were no prizes for Gaelic or Music this time, but consistency pushed them to victory with a score of 92-92, totalling 184.
Taking the Gaelic Prize was Còisir Sgìr’ a’ Bhac, and the music prize, with the day’s highest score so far, was local choir Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt (Taynuilt).
Conductor Audrey Paterson said: “It feels great to win. Music is really important to me as my father was a piper.
“Our choir is so close knit, there’s a good spirit in it right now and long may that continue.”
Audrey and her Husband Davey have been in the choir together since 1987; back then Audrey was a singer but has now been conducting for a decade.
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