American choir prepares to join young local musicians in Stirling charity concert
An American women's choir has raised more than £18,000 in support of Scotland's music and social change charity, Sistema Scotland, as it prepares to perform in the historic heart of Scotland.
Voices from the Heart, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are singing alongside the community chorus from Big Noise Raploch in a special concert at the historic church of the Holy Rude in Stirling on Friday, June 27.
The 200-strong choir is known for its mix of soulful music from different traditions and its community work and some 80 members will travel to Scotland to perform later this month.
Founded in 1995, it brings together women from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts to rehearse, perform and share the joy of music.
The choir, based in New Hampshire, organises trips abroad combined with support for communities in the places they visit.
They previously raised money for youth charity Friends Forever and for organisations tackling domestic abuse in Ireland for a trip in 2001, and fundraising to clear a minefield in Croatia in 2007. They have also supported aid projects in Cuba and South Africa.
The 2025 tour of Scotland is in support of Sistema Scotland and its six Big Noise projects that support children, young people and communities through music and nurturing relationships in the areas of greatest need in the country.
Since starting in Raploch in 2008, the programme has grown to support around 4,000 children and young people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Stirling.
So far, the choir has raised $25,000 (£18,526) and money is still coming in.
The choir raised money from individual donations, and through events such as a community song night, raffles and selling handmade crafts.
The concert takes place at the historic church of the Holy Rude in Stirling, the site of James VI's coronation in 1567, on June 27.
Tickets are free and the choir will perform a mix of traditional American music, including African American spirituals, Native American pieces and modern classics such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough. They will also perform Scottish pieces including The Skye Boat Song, Flower of Scotland and Caledonia.
The choir will also sing at Iona Abbey on Iona, the Rockfield Centre in Oban, Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh, and the Portree and Brocadale Free Church of Scotland on Skye.
Joanne Connolly, Voices from the Heart director, said: 'Our music is upbeat, joyful and positive.
'We look for organisations to support that fit with our mission. Sistema Scotland empower women and children and build community through music. Their work is a wonderful fit. I looked at the website and I saw a picture of a little girl playing the violin. It really moved me because I am a violinist and my grandparents put a violin in my hand – and it is Sistema who put a violin in her hand.
'They also talk about how children from different schools and different neighbourhoods come together in the community. We think it is so important for children to have these different communities to link up to.
'Our group is amazing. We have 200 members who have done so much to raise money for Big Noise – everyone joined together to raise funds.'
Vicky Williams, Sistema Scotland Chief Executive said: 'The power of music to bring people together, celebrate the human spirit and lift people's feelings is well know, and we are delighted to share this special concert with Voices from the Heart.
'We are incredibly grateful to them for choosing us as their charity this year, and for inviting our community choir in Raploch to perform alongside them. Not only will the money raised help young people across Scotland reach their potential through music, but the concert itself will celebrate our shared values and beliefs in music as a force for good in our society.'
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