BUILDING Harmony Choir, made up entirely of professionals from the Scottish construction sector, received a standing ovation from a packed Adelaide Place Baptist Church in Glasgow last night after delivering an epic three-hour concert in aid of Cumbernauld Action for Care of the Elderly (CACE) and Marie Curie.
The choir was launched by Claire Rosset and Molly Armstrong, both from multidisciplinary design and engineering firm BakerHicks, earlier this year with the intention of creating a new way for construction workers to de-stress and network in a less formal environment.
The idea for the choir was initially mooted at the company’s Christmas party last year.
Project Scotland attended Building Harmony Choir’s first session in May, when Claire and Molly helped singing novices to find their voice and tone with a rendition of Pharrell Williams’ hit Happy – the very same song which, seven months later, would set the tone for what would be an evening of entertainment at the Christmas concert.
Both the lower and upper tier of the church in Glasgow city centre were filled for the event, which featured songs ranging from Christmas classics such as Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody through to hits from The Killers and Foo Fighters, as well as solo efforts from both Claire and Molly, which were met with rapturous applause, and BakerHicks’ Michael Edgar, who had the whole venue clapping along as he brilliantly delivered Michael Bublé’s version of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.
To top the evening off, bagpipe rock band the Red Hot Chilli Pipers – who have performed across the globe at events including the Rugby World Cup, the Olympics, and T in the Park – took to the stage to perform a range of songs, with their cover of We Will Rock You getting everyone off their seats to dance.
After their performance, Willie Armstrong, one of the founding members of the band, took time to praise the charitable efforts of Building Harmony Choir and heaped praise on their performance.
All proceeds from the concert have gone towards Cumbernauld Action for Care of the Elderly (CACE) and Marie Curie. Molly and fellow choir member, Michael Kenny, each delivered moving speeches about the charities during the concert’s halfway point.
Molly first began volunteering for CACE following the loss of her grandfather. She now occupies a role on the board of the charity, which she explained has an aim of ensuring older people in and around the Cumbernauld area are valued and supported to enjoy a good quality of life and live independently at home.
Michael is facilities manager at Marie Curie. He heaped praise on his colleagues in direct care roles who provide clinical and emotional care to those receiving end of life care, as well as support before, during, and after to their family.
Speaking to Project Scotland after the event, Claire said, “Everybody did so well and I’m really proud of them,” before revealing there were some nerves prior to the choir making its first public debut.
The choir practice sessions will re–start in the new year, with Molly and Claire keen to see more members of the Scottish construction sector come along – regardless of their singing level. Remaining tight–lipped on what future events are planned, Claire joked that we will have to wait and see what she and Molly dream up at this year’s Christmas party!
