A musical celebration yesterday marked the first anniversary of four American nuns arriving in Elgin.
The Domincan Sisters of Saint Cecilia traded Nashville, Tennessee, for Moray just over 12 months ago.
Bearing in mind that Saint Cecilia is the patroness of music, the sisters could think of no more perfect way to celebrate than to hold a musical concert at Grayfriars Convent.
World Youth Day Co-ordinator, Gaynoll Craig, arranged the performers for the concert, which attracted more than 140 people, and she was delighted to help arrange the concert as a well-earned thank you to the nuns.
“It was great to be able to support the sisters for all the good work they do here,” she said.
“A Song for Saint Cecelia allowed us to celebrate music together.
“I thought we would perhaps have 70 here, but we had double that.”
The concert featured the chanting of the Pluscarden Abbey monks, the woodwind music of Elgin-based Fiona Gordon and Isobel Burnie, Polish baritone Mariusz Wilk, and the harps, fiddles and Gaelic ballads of the MacGillivray siblings.
Sister Anna Christi said the variety of performers captured their first year perfectly.
She said: “The monks have been very, very good friends to us while we’ve been here. Isobel and Fiona represented our local community in Elgin, Mariusz was the work we have done with the Polish church groups and the MacGillivrays brought their happy, highland spirit.
“We always enjoy having people here to share the beauty of the place and joyfulness of the community that gathers here.
“It was a big success. We would like to make this a regular thing. Music is so important. As St Augustine said, he who sings prays twice.”