Kansas band join with Fair City Singers for fine musical evening

Dec 11 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

LISTENERS were given a treat when US band Fountain City Brass joined forces with Perth’s own Fair City Singers.

The musical evening at Perth Concert Hall was the first in a weekend-long series of events involving adult and youth competitions arranged by the Scottish Brass Band Association.

Fountain City Brass Band is a volunteer musical ensemble based in the greater Kansas City area. They perform a wide variety of music including opera, jazz, Broadway and modern compositions.

The band are the reigning North American and US open brass band champions, having won an unprecedented six consecutive national titles.

Led by founder and conductor Marion Neilson, the Fair City Singers are a rich source of young talent and performed a range of songs, complete with choreography.

The Singers, who are all aged 10-17, have performed in several Songs of Praise programmes, including one from Glamis Castle to celebrate the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday.

They have also performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and in a special Christmas programme.

Recently they were invited to take part in ‘Go Sing’ in the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, and they will be appearing on BBC TV on Christmas Eve this year in ‘Christmas Celebration’ from St John’s Kirk, Perth.