With few able to articulate in words the horror of the 9/11 atrocities in New York, the world turned to music to express the inexpressible, and the September Concert phenomenon was born.

This year, Scotland will, for the first time, join more than 200 countries in this global day of ‘music for peace’ with a special evening of music, free to the public at the capital’s Festival Theatre.

Headlined by acclaimed Scottish choirs, InChorus and The Lothian and Borders Police Choir, the concert on Saturday September 11 at 7.30pm will also include exclusive performances by The Gospel Truth Choir; singer and songwriter, Fish and Big Country’s Bruce Watson along with son, Jamie.  The event will be compered by Grant Stott from Radio Forth.

The event holds particular significance for the Lothian and Borders Police Choir due to the large number of police officers, fire-fighters, paramedics and other rescue services involved in the immediate and long term aftermath of the terrorist attacks.  They have (with InChorus) been invited to represent Scotland at the same event in New York next year at the tenth anniversary commemorations at Ground Zero. Such a venture has led to ambitious ‘From Queen to Manhattan’ and ‘From 999 to 911’ fundraising campaigns to enable them to travel to the USA to sing.

Andrew Russel, Musical Director said:

“It is an honour to be hosting Scotland’s first September Concert here in Edinburgh, representing our country’s compassion for the lives lost in 9/11 and support for the incredible work of the emergency and volunteer services.

“We’re delighted that The Gospel Truth Choir, Fish and Bruce and Jamie Watson are giving their time and musicianship to this cause, and it will be a very poignant evening to remember.”

Both choirs will perform a ‘flash choir’ stunt in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on Friday 27th August at 8.15pm to raise awareness for The September Concert, transforming from Fringe crowd to choir within a few bars of music.

All September Concerts are free entry, and tickets are available now from the Festival Theatre box office on 0131 529 6000.

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.