2025-2026 Season
Coming next . .
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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
New Season Bass and Tenor Scholarships
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 125 singers and is looking to recruit a tenor and a bass scholar (The MC and CS Forbes Bass Scholarship) to support those sections. Successful applicants will be paid a suitable honorarium. To apply, or for further information about Scholarships please contact admin@ercu.org.uk
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 125 singers and is looking to recruit a tenor and a bass scholar (The MC and CS Forbes Bass Scholarship) to support those sections. Successful applicants will be paid a suitable honorarium. To apply, or for further information about Scholarships please contact admin@ercu.org.uk
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Nathanael Fagerson will continue as a tenor scholar with the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union for the 2025-26 season. He 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 continue 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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Review of "Radiant in Blue & Gold" - Summer Concert 2025
Excerpts from The Edinburgh Music Review.
"...the main impact in the Mass comes from the exceptional choral singing, with the bright final sections of the ‘Gloria’ delivered with obvious enjoyment which spreads to the audience. There’s enthusiastic applause for the choir, soloists and their outstanding conductor, Michael Bawtree; it continues for some time, before mentally uplifted - but also suitably attired - we go out into the wet Edinburgh night."
Read more > >
Excerpts from The Edinburgh Music Review.
"...the main impact in the Mass comes from the exceptional choral singing, with the bright final sections of the ‘Gloria’ delivered with obvious enjoyment which spreads to the audience. There’s enthusiastic applause for the choir, soloists and their outstanding conductor, Michael Bawtree; it continues for some time, before mentally uplifted - but also suitably attired - we go out into the wet Edinburgh night."
Read more > >
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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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Edinburgh Royal Choral Union |
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