A choir led by Military Wives composer Professor Paul Mealor is getting ready to jet to the US to perform at some of America’s most prestigious venues.
But before that, the singers will be showcasing their talents with a very special guest at the helm.
Renowned choral conductor Lady Suzi Digby will lead the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir at a concert in the Granite City tomorrow night.
They will perform a programme of works – including Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, which was written 50 years ago next month – at the St Andrew’s Cathedral in King Street.
The choir has been led by Prof Mealor for the past 12 years.
He said the talented group of 35 were putting the final touches to their show before they tour New York, Philadelphia and Princeton in early April.
He added: “It’s going to be a big mixture of all the best in choral music.
“We’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Chichester Psalms and looking at the music of Morten Lauridsen, an American composer who was a regular visitor to Aberdeen over the years.
“In the middle we have four brand new pieces written by students at the university celebrating the Psalms.”
He added that choir members were already “buzzing” about the US tour.
Prof Mealor said: “We’ve been invited to sing Chichester Psalms in New York on 5th Avenue on the actual anniversary of the piece.
“We’re there for a week and we’re being hosted by Westminster Choir College in Princeton, which is considered to be the best place to study vocal music in the world.
“We are then putting on a ceilidh for them and will teach them the Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen.
“It’s all been fully-funded. The University of Aberdeen development trust is helping to support this, and Princeton University.
“The kids are going for free. It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
Lady Suzi, who was made an OBE in 2007 for her services to music education, said: “I’m delighted to be in Aberdeen again, and especially getting the opportunity to work with such a talented group of students.
“They are a real credit to the university.”
Ed Jones, from Aberdeen, a PhD student at the university, is the choir’s organist.
He said: “I can’t wait for the performance on Friday. St Andrew’s is such a beautiful venue and I’m sure we can make it rock.
“Going to America is going to be really exciting. We have been bouncing off the walls since we found out.”
Tomorrow’s concert will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 for adults, £5 for concessions, £2 for under-18s and free for students.