Abbey Consort creates a newsletter periodically to keep our friends, supporters and followers up-to-date with the activities and events of the Choir. It is delivered via our
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Below is a list of all past issues...
Wed, 8 Apr 2026
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Dear Friends, A huge thank you to the many who attended last Sunday's performance of Handel's Messiah.
I hope you all enjoyed the music as much as we enjoyed performing. Audience numbers were excellent and the performance will have raised a substantial sum for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Once I know the exact amount of the donation I will let you know.
Meanwhile rehearsals are starting for Abbey Consort's summer concert "A Summer Garland" .
Full details of this will follow soon. A choir's work is never done!
Tue, 17 Feb 2026
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Dear friends, We are delighted to announce the soloists for the forthcoming MESSIAH
on Easter Sunday at 3.00pm in Melrose Parish Church.
Internationally renouned soprano Mhairi Lawson is joined by Caitlin Mackenzie, Euan McDonald and Julian Tovey.
Our Summer concert is entitled "A Summer Garland" with a programme of elegantly arranged folk songs by Holst, Vaughan Williams, John Rutter and Brian Bonsor.
Saturday 6th June 2026 at 7.00pm in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose.
Tickets £15 (including suitable summer refreshments and programme) can be obtained from choir members, at the door (card or cash), Holmes of Melrose, Mimosa of Melrose.and online from abbeyconsort.org.uk
Tue, 10 Feb 2026
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Tue, 10 Feb 2026
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Dear Friends,
Abbey Consort is delighted to welcome our friends from the Eildon Singers who will join us in a performance of Handel's Messiah on Easter Sunday, 5th April, 3.00pm in Melrose Parish Church. The choir will be accompanied by orchestra led by Cath Cormie and directed by James Letham. The performance is in aid of
MY NAME'5 DODDIE FOUNDATION . Tickets £15 are available from choir members, Holmes of Melrose, at the door (card and cash) or on our website,abbeyconsort.org.uk Further details will follow.
What could be more appropriate than listening to Handel's wonderful music on Easter Sunday in the Church overlooking The Greenyards where Doddie played so much of his rugby for Melrose RFC.
Tue, 11 Nov 2025
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Dear Friends,
Many thanks to all of you who attended either the Kelso or the Galashiels
concert. If you were unable to attend, you missed a superb concert. Both were very successful and we have received many complimentary remarks.
Thanks to our soloist Mhairi Lawson who will be joining us again for the Messiah concert next Spring. We could not have managed without our musical director Jim Letham, our fantastic string players and Chris Achenbach on continuo. Chris and Jim also gave a sparking performance of a piano duet by Mussorgsky.
Full details of our next concert (Messiah) will follow when finalised.
Fri, 17 Oct 2025
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Dear Friends, The M Collection concerts are now almost upon us. Ticket sales are open online, but also from choir members and at the door.(Card/cash)
We are delighted to anounce that our soprano soloist will be none other than Mhairi Lawson, the internationally acclaimed singer who comes from Galashiels.
The concert is a vibrant celebration of choral and instrumental masterpieces by composers whose surnames begin with "M".
We look forward to welcoming you either to Kelso Old Parish Church on Saturday 25th Oct at 7.00pm or to Our Lady and St. Andrew Roman catholic Church Galashiels on Sunday 26th Oct at 3.00pm.
Come along and enjoy the Marvellous Music of the M Collection and the complementary refreshments after.
Thu, 11 Sep 2025
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An update on our October concerts.Ticket price is £15.00 and includes refreshments and programme. Tickets are available from members or online: abbeyconsort.org.uk
This will be a wonderful concert and we look forward to welcoming you. 
Mon, 18 Aug 2025
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Mon, 18 Aug 2025
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SUMMER NEWS LETTER
Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying this excellent Summer weather. Abbey Consort is about to resume rehearsals for our next concerts The "M" Collection. The featured composers are Monteverdi, Moszkowski, Mendelssohn, MacMillan and Mozart.
The Programme:
MONTEVERDI Toccata(L'Orfeo) Beatus Vir Adoramus te, Christe
MOSZKOWSKI From Foreign Lands - Italy
MENDELSSOHN Verleih uns Frieden String Symphony No8- Menuetto
Christe, du Lamm Gottes
MacMILLAN O Radiant Dawn
MOZART Sancta Maria, mater Dei Ave Verum
Benedictus Deus (1,2 and3)
Tickets will be available from Choir members, at the door and online at www.abbeyconsort.org.uk
The ticket price is £15.00 includng compliamentary programme and refreshments after the concert which runs for
approx 90 minutes.
Fri, 18 Apr 2025
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Dear Friends, A huge thank you to those of you who attended the Viva Vivaldi concerts. The choir certainly enjoyed performing the music and the orchestra provided excellent support. There have been many compliamentary comments on both the performance and the reception.
The choir now moves on to rehearse for the next concert. This will be a programme of Mozart, Montiverdi and Mendelssohn. Dates and venues are on the events page.
There will be a performance of Handel's Messiah in February 2026. The Eildon Singers will join us for this charity performance in aid of the Doddie Weir Foundation.
More details in due course.
Fri, 4 Apr 2025
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Dear Friends, Final reminder for the VIVA VIVALDI concerts. Tomorrow- Melrose Parish Church, 1900 and Sunday- St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kelso, 15.00.
The sparkling wine is on ice, the orchestra tuned up and the choir in excellent voice.
Make sure you don't miss this Unforgettable Experience!
We look forward to welcoming you to one of the concerts.
Thu, 20 Mar 2025
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VIVA VIVALDI
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE!!!
Thu, 20 Mar 2025
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VIVA VIVALDI
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE!!!
Are you ready to experience the magic of Vivaldi's best-known works? Join Abbey Consort and instrumental ensemble for the SCOTTISH PREMIERE of a vocal re-imagining of THE FOUR SEASONS - an event that promises to be nothing short of spectacular! A SEASON TO SING by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange ( international vocalist, composer, and choir director) is an intoxicating mix of beauty, excitement, and humour! Don't miss out on the concert of the year- including the joyous GLORIA, where every note resonates with energy and passion. Secure your tickets now and let the music transport you!
Saturday 5th April, 19.00, Melrose Parish Church and Sunday 6th April, 15.00 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kelso. Tickets available online (abbeyconsort.org.uk), from choir members and at the door (Cash or card) -£15.00 including programme and refreshments.
Fri, 28 Feb 2025
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Dear Friends,
Rehearsals are now well underway for our next concerts, VIVA VIVALDI!
The concert starts with the perennial favourite "GLORIA" accompanied by an orchestra (leader Cath Cormie). The orchestra will then perform the spirited work "LA FOLIA" .
After the interval comes the Scottish Premiere of "A SEASON TO SING",a choral setting of Vivaldi's famous Four Seasons (which celebrates its 300th anniversary this year). Joanna Forbes L'Estrange has set verses from the bible and poetry to Vivaldi's music to make an exciting and dynamic work.
Not without its challenges, however, as the choir is tasked with imitating a summer downpour and thunderstorm and evoking the freezing temperatures of winter. A unique experience for both choir and audience!
As this is a Scottish Premiere the audience is invited to join with the choir and orchestra in a celebratory sparkling drink with nibbles after both performances.
We very much hope to see you at one of the concerts, or indeed both!
Melrose Parish Church Saturday 5th April 7pm.
Kelso St. Andrew's Epispocal Church Sunday 6th April 3pm.
Tickets are available online at Abbeyconsort.org.uk , from members or at the door (cash or card) Tickets are £15.00 including programme and refreshments.
Please take time to look at our new website.
Sun, 9 Feb 2025
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Dear Friends,
The choir is currently rehearsing for our next concert.
This will be an event not to be missed!
SCOTTISH PREMIER COMES TO MELROSE AND KELSO.
Abbey consort is delighted to have been invited to perform the Scottish Premier of "A Season to Sing". Using Vivaldi's much loved Four Seasons, Joanna Forbes L'Estrange has added words from poetry and the bible not to mention the choir performing sound effects of storms,rain and wind. All in all a unique and enjoyable evening. They will also perform Vivaldi's GLORIA to celebrate the composer's 300th anniversary.
Complementary drinks and nibbles after the performance.
Melrose Parish Church, Saturday 5th April 7pm
St Andrew's Episcopal Church Kelso, Sunday 6th April 3pm.
Tickets £15 including refreshments and programme.
Tickets will be available on our website (Abbey Consort .org.uk) , from members and at the door.
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