The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union

The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union is one of Scotland's foremost choral societies and Edinburgh's oldest choir. Established in 1858, the Choral continues to perform a wide variety of major works from the choral repertoire. Although it is an independent chorus, it has worked closely in recent years with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, most recently in a performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius under the baton of Martyn Brabbins.

The Choral has played a significant part in the musical life of Scotland, having given the first Scottish performances of many works, including Bach's B Minor Mass. The choir also performed at the opening of the Usher Hall in 1914 and retains a strong association with this venue to the present day.

The annual New Year Usher Hall lunchtime performance of Messiah is a long established Edinburgh tradition, with audience members bringing picnic lunches to enjoy during the interval. Most recently the chorus master, Robert Marshall, conducted the Caledonian Chamber Orchestra in the Messiah performance on 2nd January 2003.

The Choral comprises around 120 members who rehearse every week.

There is a great history of performance with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, The London Symphony, the Vienna Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony and the Royal Scottish National under such legendary figures as Sir Henry Wood, Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Otto Klemperer, Sir Charles Groves and Vernon Handley. But the ERCU is a modern choral society and aims to provide both Edinburgh and the wider Scottish musical scene with performances of the highest standard.

Chorus Master Robert Marshall

Robert Marshall is one of Scotland's most experienced choir trainers. He is an accomplished conductor and singer and is becoming widely recognised as a versatile and gifted 'chorus master' within the UK Choral Society tradition.

Originally from Nottingham he graduated from Edinburgh University with an Honours degree in Music in 1986 having won scholarships to study conducting in both London and Dublin. Having co-founded and directed the Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra in 1984, he went on to found the Glasgow Chamber Choir in 1994, which has quickly become one of Scotland's best chamber choirs.

As a singer, he has performed in solo oratorio for a number of Choral Societies in England and Scotland, and has also performed with Cappella Nova, with whom he has toured abroad and also made recordings. He was appointed Chorus Master to the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union in 1998, marking the beginning of a new era for the Choral. Passionate about the role of chorus master, that is, the professional trainer who prepares the choir to sing with a professional orchestra and for a professional conductor, Robert has helped the choir as one of the UK's leading Choral Societies. Under his artistic direction, it now performs regularly with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and has worked in the recent past with such figures as Roderick Brydon, Simon Halsey, Brian Kay and John Pryce-Jones. The choir performs in the Usher Hall. Last October Robert Marshall co-conducted Britten's War Requiem and in January he conducted the annual New Year Messiah both in the Usher Hall.

(www.ercu.org.uk/)