A Dumfries-based chamber choir, The Balliol Singers, have assembled a poignant musical tribute to the late Edinburgh composer Tom Cunningham, who passed away in 2023 following a battle with motor neurone disease. The choir, led by conductor Katharine Durran in their 33rd year, will showcase this tribute twice – in Lockerbie and Edinburgh.
Geoff Creamer of The Balliol Singers shared that they recently presented a performance of Ninian’s Gift in Dumfries and Castle Douglas, a collaborative work between best-selling novelist Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Mr Cunningham. Sir Alexander McCall Smith expressed a strong desire for the piece to be performed in Edinburgh during rehearsals. Thanks to his personal generosity, the choir will honour this wish with a performance at Greyfriars Kirk on Sunday, October 27, attended by Sir Alexander and members of Tom Cunningham’s family, with free admission.
The concert, which will feature a Tom Cunningham Tribute Programme, includes excerpts from various part-song cycles of Cunningham and McCall Smith’s collaboration over 20 years. The performance will also incorporate traditional Scottish hymns and modern compositions by renowned composers. Before the Edinburgh event, there will be a chance for Dumfries and Galloway audiences to experience the tribute concert in Lockerbie on October 22.
The proceeds from the Lockerbie concert will aid the Lockerbie Music Society and The Balliol Singers’ funds, while donations at both venues will support the MyName5 Doddie Foundation’s research into motor neurone disease. This tribute concert not only honours the musical legacy of Tom Cunningham but also contributes to a vital cause in the fight against motor neurone disease.
In conclusion, The Balliol Singers’ musical tribute to Tom Cunningham is not only a celebration of his work but also a touching gesture of support for those affected by motor neurone disease. Through the power of music, they aim to honour a talented composer and contribute to ongoing research efforts to combat this devastating illness.