On our recent tour of the Highlands the third concert in our series, in Ness Bank Church, Inverness, was to raise funds for Marie Curie and to celebrate the life of our mutual friend and supporter, May Storrie CBE, who died earlier this year.

During the tour our choristers participated in the, now traditional, tour quiz and contributed a token sum to take part. We were able to pass on the money raised to Marie Curie on the day of the concert, a not insubstantial £250.

The concert itself raised an amazing £3,034, our audience having queued along the street and round the block to attend.

We very much look forward to returning in future years. 

Matthew McIlree 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 began learning piano and violin in 2005 and achieved a place at the Music School of Douglas Academy in 2012. There, he took up organ and studied with David Hamilton from 2013, having been introduced to the instrument at his local church. 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. Having first played the piano for the Glasgow Phoenix Choir on our Oban tour in 2019, he is now playing for us more regularly, including our Christmas concerts.