Organisers of Nairn’s winter procession are appealing for volunteers to join a mass choir which will perform at the annual event.
This year’s show, called Wintersong, is being co-ordinated by Inspire, a Nairn young peoples’ working group, and will be held on November 27.
The event will feature two processions, beginning at opposite ends of the town and meeting at the corner of High Street and Leopold Street.
Wintersong will also feature a new community choir, made up of members of Nairn’s existing singing outfits, including Nairn Gaelic Choir, the Narden Singers, the recently-formed vocal ensemble The Accidentals, led by Wendy Strath, and the Howlin’ Gaels.
The choir will be conducted by Ali Burns, one of Scotland’s foremost community choir directors.
Isabel Connell, Inspire’s co-chairwoman, said: “We’ve commissioned a new song for Nairn called Wintersong, and we’re inviting the whole of Nairn to learn it and help us sing it on the big stage as part of the winter lights switch on ceremony.
“If there’s enough of us, we’ll all be part of the biggest outdoor world premiere in Nairn’s history.”
Myra Wellburn, Inspire’s secretary, added: “We plan to establish Nairn as a great place to be in late November annually, so that visitors from all over Scotland and beyond come here to experience the procession at first hand.
“We think it’s an awesome idea as it offers so much potential for the whole community to be involved, whether directly as participants or indirectly as service providers and audience members.”
Last year’s Nairnia procession featured 350 performers, watched by more than 3,500 people.
The first mass choir practice will take place on Saturday, with an open session in carnival drumming, brass and woodwind scheduled for the following day.
For details of workshop times and information about joining the Wintersong choir, people can contact Angela McOwan on 07949 394708 or e-mail angela@birleypark .co.uk