Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir has appointed a new musical director.
Kerrie Kennedy takes on the role following the retirement of May Brown, who had been in the post for the last 15 years.
Kerrie is an award-winning Gaelic singer and Gaelic choral conductor who originally comes from Ross-Shire, but now lives in Oban with her family. She won the An Comunn Gaidhealach Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Falkirk in 2008 alongside her now husband, Lyle Kennedy.
Kerrie started singing at a very young age as a soloist and junior chorister at local and national mods and eventually joined Dingwall Gaelic Choir when she was 18, singing with them for 15 years under the direction of the late Hamish and Kirsteen Menzies.
She has been conductor of the male voice choir Coilich a’ Chinn a Tuath and was conductor with Aberdeen Gaelic Choir from 2019 until stepping down after the Royal National Mod in Oban last October.
More recently, Kerrie has also established a new Gaelic youth choir for primary and secondary pupils in the Oban and Lorn area called Ceòlach.
Kerrie is a Gaelic Teacher in Oban and heads up the local Gaelic Medium Education unit there.
Kerrie said: “I am absolutely delighted to begin this new chapter with Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir.
“I have enjoyed watching them perform many times on stage and equally enjoyed a good singsong with them at a few ceilidhs over the years.
“They are already a fabulous choir and I am very excited to get cracking.”
Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir president, John Duff, commented, “We are thrilled to have secured the very talented Kerrie as our new musical director and look forward to her starting with the choir later this month.
“Kerrie is well known to many of the choir members, and we believe she will lead us to new heights and further success.
“I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank May for her sterling work as our musical director for the last 15 years.
“We are pleased that May will continue to be a member of the choir.”
Aberfeldy Gaelic Choir commences rehearsals for this year’s National Mod on Wednesday January 22 at 7.30pm in Aberfeldy Town Hall.
New members will be made very welcome.
Knowledge of Gaelic or an ability to read music are not essential.