ERCU Conducting Fellowship 2021-2022

The fellowship, now in its fourth year, gives aspiring young conductors the opportunity to further their experience of choral conducting under the direction of ERCU Chorus Director Michael Bawtree. They attend rehearsals and regularly have the chance to direct and conduct works both in rehearsal and at concert performances.
We are delighted that Sam McLellan will continue with us as our ERCU conducting fellow for 2021-22, and hope that this season he will be able to conduct the choir in person rather than via Zoom!

Sam McLellan

Sam McLellan is a final-year BMus Music student at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in composition; he also studies piano under Peter Evans. He is thrilled and grateful to be returning to ERCU for its 2021-22 season—despite the fantastic opportunities provided by Zoom rehearsals, he is delighted to be resuming rehearsals proper. He is extremely thankful for the opportunity to work with a caring choir of such calibre, and is particularly indebted to Michael Bawtree for his continued expert guidance and mentorship and to Morley Whitehead for his unwavering support from the pianistic sidelines.

Outwith his ERCU duties, Sam conducts Edinburgh University Music Society’s Sinfonia, a full-sized symphony orchestra, Edinburgh University’s Composers’ Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to the performance of new music, and Renaissance Singers, one of the three auditioned choirs at the university. Through those roles he is fortunate to perform frequently on Edinburgh stages and beyond, and during the pandemic lockdowns he was pleased to organise a talk series with his ensembles: speakers included internationally renowned conductor and philanthropist George Mathew of Music4Life International.
Sam has been fortunate to receive teaching and masterclasses from acclaimed conductors including Peter Evans (Meadows Chamber Orchestra), Nigel Boddice MBE (Royal Conservatoire), Holly Mathieson (Royal Scottish National, National Youth Orchestra) and Professor Kenneth Kiesler (Illinois Symphony Orchestra).

As a choral conductor he attended the Association of British Choral Directors Convention masterclass with Dr Amy Bebbington. Sam now studies conducting regularly under Jonathan Brett (English Classical Players, Moscow Philharmonic), himself a student of legendary Russian conductor, Yuri Simonov.
In the summer of 2018, Sam conducted the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, following a year as a Young Ambassador, in a programme of Grieg, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. He was subsequently invited to observe rehearsals when he enjoyed shadowing conductors Thomas Søndergård, Sir Andrew Davis and Elim Chan.
Hailing from Perth, Sam is also in demand as an accompanist and has worked widely alongside choirs, solo singers and instrumentalists, culminating in performances at the Perth Festival of the Arts and the City of Derry International Choral Festival; during the pandemic he enjoyed working as a repetiteur for an online performance of Die Fledermaus. As a solo pianist he enjoyed recent success at the Edinburgh Competition Festival Open Recital competition.
In his spare time Sam is an international fencing referee, recovering fencer, and a well-trained walker and feeder of his beagle, Brubeck.

ERCU History Book

Edinburgh Royal Choral Union 1982 - 2013
Into the new millenium: a time of change
This latest chapter in the history of the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union takes us into the 21st century and includes the celebration of its 150th anniversary in 2008. The aim is to explore beyond a basic overview of the years in question and get behind the scenes to look into what it takes for a large choir to function, including the highs and lows. However, emotion and true feeling for the music is never too far away, as is humour and the feeling of camaraderie within the choir.
 To purchase a copy of the history book please contact admin@ercu.org.uk 
 The price is £5 plus P&P (£2)
 Payment: you can send a cheque to:
‘ERCU c/o Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL’
or make a payment directly to ERCU by bank transfer.