2024-2025 Season
Coming next . .
Spring Concert 2025From Darkness to Light
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Our friendly choir welcomes new members in all voice parts throughout the season, which runs from September to May or early June. Interested singers can come along to any Tuesday rehearsal at Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL.
For more details, see the “join” page or contact membership@ercu.org.uk We are particularly keen to hear from tenors and basses! See our News section below for information on Tenor scholarships. 
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News from ERCU
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Review of Handel's Messiah 2025
Reviews from The Herald, The Edinburgh Music Review and Vox Carnyx. "The choir’s diction was every bit as exemplary as that of the soloists and the dynamic control often better, with some of the finest singing the quietest, regardless of how enthusiastically this audience received the Hallelujah Chorus." Read more > > |
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Tenor Scholarships * * * We remain on the lookout for Tenor Scholars * * *
The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union is one of Scotland's leading choral societies and has a varied musical programme under Chorus Director Michael Bawtree. The choir currently numbers c 130 singers and is looking to recruit tenor scholars to support that section. Successful applicants will be paid a suitable honorarium.
To apply, or for further information about Tenor Scholarships please contact admin@ercu.org.uk.
The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union is one of Scotland's leading choral societies and has a varied musical programme under Chorus Director Michael Bawtree. The choir currently numbers c 130 singers and is looking to recruit tenor scholars to support that section. Successful applicants will be paid a suitable honorarium.
To apply, or for further information about Tenor Scholarships please contact admin@ercu.org.uk.
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Tenor Scholars
A new tenor scholar this season is Harry Lempriere-Johnston, currently in his fourth year studying English literature at the University of Edinburgh, who writes: “I have been a keen singer all my life. Surprisingly, singing does not run in my family, so it was a bit of a shock to them when I made it into the school choir age nine. However, my love for singing was not held back and it blossomed over the years. Travelling the world from 13 in a choir, performing in China, South Africa, Kenya, Russia, and all over the UK, I realised singing was my calling. It wasn’t until I was 17 that I started learning proper opera repertoire. After a two-year hiatus after leaving school with no singing at all, I joined Edinburgh Studio Opera’s production of Die Fledermaus where my passion was reignited, singing alongside professionally trained opera singers. |
Harry Lempriere-Johnston
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From then on, it has been endless fun, performing as Captain Corcoran in Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group’s HMS Pinafore and playing Jupiter in ESO’s Semele. I am currently in the process of applying to London conservatoires for a Masters in Music (Performance) to pursue my career as an opera singer. Singing with ERCU has given me an opportunity, and a platform, to explore my singing further and build my relationships in the operatic world, and I look forward to my year with them.”
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Joining Harry, we are delighted to introduce our second Tenor Scholar, Nathanael Fagerson, who writes:
"I started singing in choirs from age 7 when I joined the regional National Youth Choir of Scotland in Dundee until I was 12, with some years in the National Boys Choir of Scotland. After that I went south of the border on a music scholarship to Sherborne School in Dorset, where my singing really started to flourish. With weekly singing lessons and many choirs, my love for choir music grew rapidly! From 2020-24 I was at the University of St Andrews where I started in the University Chapel Choir and then joined St Andrews Madrigal Group for three years when I was given the opportunity to sing in some amazing locations from Berlin Cathedral to Westminster Abbey. I’m currently studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh. I am very excited to start the next part of my musical journey with the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union. The repertoire is exciting, and I look forward to singing with them over the year." |
Nathanael Fagerson
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Conducting Fellow
We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new conducting fellow, Fraser David Macdonald. Fraser is an emerging Scottish conductor and composer. He is the Assistant Director of the schola cantorum of the Church of the Sacred Heart. Having achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in music from Edinburgh University, Fraser is now pursuing a masters in composition, with a focus on music for voices and instruments. An accomplished choral composer, Fraser is interested in telling stories that are relevant to a modern audience, and recently he has been exploring the use of field recordings and visual media to enhance the concert experience. Alongside conducting and composing, Fraser is a tenor scholar with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, and performs with them regularly. Other concert highlights include the BBC Proms and a concert in the Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Choir of Scotland, and performing alongside Andrea Bocelli and Edinburgh University Chamber Choir in the OVO Hydro. |
Fraser David Macdonald
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Welcome
We're delighted to have been joined by a good number of new members this season and especially by many younger enthusiasts. Welcome to you all!
We're delighted to have been joined by a good number of new members this season and especially by many younger enthusiasts. Welcome to you all!
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union |
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