St James’s Church on St Catherine Street hosts its annual concert in aid of Cupar Foodbank on Friday 20th March – the latest in a series of concerts that have been supporting the charity since 2015.

And as has become the tradition, this concert will be presented in association with the Music Centre of the University of St Andrews.

This year’s concert will be performed by the McPherson Scholarship String Quartet, and by Organist Chris Bragg.

The Quartet – one of three scholarship quartets made up of auditioned students at the University of St Andrews Music Centre, where they receive weekly individual and ensemble coaching – is pictured below (L-R): Amelie Bazile, Marcus Chan, Marie-Liang Ingrand, Roshni Bhaumik.

 

Chris is Head of Programming at the Music Centre and one of the organists who plays regularly on the St James’s 1897 Miller Organ.

The programme will include organ music by Mozart and Schumann as well a complete performance of Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet no. 1 in A major.

“The Spring charity concert at St James has become a fixture in the Cupar diary during the last dozen or so years” says Chris, adding: “It allows us both to raise awareness and funds for the hugely important work of the Cupar Foodbank, demand for whose services is always rising, and to provide a platform for some of the many talented student musicians with whom we’re privileged to work in the University.”

Julie McLay, the Foodbank’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, will provide an update on their current, surprisingly extensive, activities.

Revd Sarah Miller, Rector of St James adds: “We will be glad to open the doors of the church for this concert in aid of the Foodbank, with whom we work in partnership to help serve the local people of our community.”

Free for all …

The concert – starting at 7:30pm – is free for all attending. Tea, coffee and home baking will be served during the interval.

There will be the opportunity to contribute to a collection in support of the Foodbank.

 

Market Concerts

The Church has continued its Market Concerts, planned to coincide with the monthly market on nearby Crossgate. The most recent? A concert given as part of the 80th anniversary of the University of St Andrews Madrigal Group, a student-run chamber choir of around 15 singers which has performed and toured annually since 1946. They are pictured (below) in St James after their performance.

Their concert followed their international tour to Prague and precedes their annual UK-wide tour this Spring, which takes in many venues at which the choir is invited to sing year after year.

Directed by the Campbell Watterson Organ Scholar, Daniel Toombs, the Madrigal Group sang a typically broad repertoire encompassing the pan-European Renaissance music which has traditionally provided the group’s calling card. The programme included madrigals by Clement Janequin, Thomas Morley and Thomas Tomkins, as well as 19th and 20th century part-songs by, among others, Parry and Elgar.

St James’ Rector, the Rev Sarah Miller, said: “It is such a privilege for a church in Cupar to host musicians of this standard.  We were delighted to welcome an audience of more than 60 to hear this fine music and to enjoy the church’s hospitality.”

The 30-minute concert was free with a retiring collection in aid of both St James’ and the Madrigal Group. Refreshments, including home baking were as usual served at the end.

Thank you for reading. 

 

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