OPPOSITE PAGE , TOP : GILRAY ’ S CHOIR PERFORMS . LEFT : DAVIDSON ’ S CAPTAINS WITH THE HOUSE CHORALS CUP . RIGHT : THE CARDINALS SING . THIS PAGE : LAWSON ’ S CHOIR PERFORMS
occupied around our premises : ‘ As always , the year commences with the 12 Houses rehearsing in every available space in the James Forbes Academy , and doing their collective best to make a tuneful sound in pursuit of the coveted trophy for winning the House Chorals Competition .’
Dr Scott Marsh ’ s views succinctly summed up the particularities of this 2024 edition : ‘ The 2024 Scotch House singing competition was again accompanied by highs and lows , controversies and celebrations ; and perhaps most importantly , singing that simply brought a tear to the eye ( yes , you can interpret that as you wish ).
‘ As always , the breadth of repertoire was considerable , from medleys of modern pop songs to good old classics . It was clear the judge was perhaps a traditionalist and loved the a capella genre which perhaps was the edge Davidson needed to get over the line . Their performance was ambitious and well executed , and despite the disappointment experienced by several Houses , history will simply record Davidson as the 2024 winners .’
As to the actual merits and benefits of such an event , again our Director of Music , Dr John Ferguson shared his expert opinion : ‘ It would be true to say that in some cases one has to listen more to enthusiasm than to musical excellence . However , quality notwithstanding , there is little doubt that singing together is a rewarding activity with many benefits that differ from other pursuits .
‘ The activity of making music at any level has well-documented benefits . Numerous studies utilising different research designs and methodological approaches have reported the following benefits of singing in groups : u increased self-confidence , empowerment , wellbeing and interpersonal skills ; u a general lifting of the spirits and a sense of joy and accomplishment ; u lowered feelings of social isolation , depression and anxiety ; and u increased social capital through participation in social , cultural and community activities .’
How long has Scotch embraced this tradition that combines opportunities to forge connections , appreciate the beauty of the arts , while also fostering the boys ’ competitive nature ? Our Archivist , Paul Mishura , provided some answers : ‘ House music dates from its first competition in
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