WATCH: Choir 'unlike any other' Tarantara tuning up for charity performances at Dornoch, Grantown on Spey and Inverness to benefit Mikeysline and churches
A CHOIR "unlike any other" is heading for the Highlands for a trio of very special concerts raising money for good causes.
Tarantara is a mixed choir from England's Midlands who have been singing to great acclaim, and for a wide variety of charitable causes, for almost 20 years.
Profits from concerts go to the organiser's chosen charity and over the years the choir has raised in excess of £100,000.
Concerts in Inverness, Grantown and Dornoch on the first three days of July will raise money for Mikeysline.
Mikeysline provides mental health support in the Highlands and has been expanding its services rapidly in recent years in response to demand.
The choir is self-funding the trip in full, with members meeting their own accommodation, meals, travel and tourist attraction visits. They are also not charging to perform at any venue.
Tickets will be sold for £7.50 on the door and ahead of time online with 50 per cent of proceeds going to Mikeysline from each performance and the other half going to the church to reinvest in the communities where performances are taking place.
The performances will take place on:
Friday, July 1 at 7.30pm at Inverness Cathedral
Saturday, July 2 at 7.30pm at Grantown on Spey Church of Scotland
Sunday, July 3 at 2pm at Dornoch Cathedral.
Tarantara concerts are renowned for their high entertainment value. The repertoire is always diverse – everything from songs from musical theatre and pop hits from the past, to classic choral pieces and adventurous contemporary works by the likes of Morton Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre.
Accompanist Chris Long, a professional musician and teacher, has played for Tarantara since 2005. He said: “A Tarantara concert has something for everybody; an inspired music selection, a very entertaining evening of singing. Anyone who thought that a choir concert was a stuffy affair needs to hear Tarantara!”
As well as performing locally, the choir love to travel and have sung as guests in Spain, Wales, Cornwall, Norfolk and Sunderland.
This July they are delighted to be able to add Scotland to their list of destinations and perform in the Highlands after having to postpone the tour from two years ago.
Helen, a long-standing member of the choir said: “We love to sing together, but it is all the more special to be part of an event organised by local people, for a cause they believe in and which benefits those in need”.
Ticket info:
Online links: Inverness Cathedral show https://www.eventbrite.com/e/346594221647
Inverallan Church of Scotland, Grantown on Spey show https://www.eventbrite.com/e/346598374067
Dornoch Cathedral https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/346600209557
Tickets can be also purchased by calling the churches, or on the door alternatively email chris@grantfam.co.uk