A PEEBLESSHIRE choir has welcomed its new musical director.

Peebles-based choir InChorus said it is “delighted” to welcome Au Arias to the choir.

Au, who is originally from Argentina, has worked with choirs and orchestras in five countries and worked in Turkey for three years as opera director at the Samsun State Opera and Ballet before moving to Scotland with his wife last year.

Au said: “I have always been interested in big choirs and am very happy to be given the opportunity to work with InChorus in this lovely Borders town.

“Despite the many months of being unable to sing together I am amazed at their ability and determination to sound good.”

The choir spent a number of months without a musical director as the coronavirus pandemic limited opportunities to meet with candidates.

Choir manager Cath Shepheard said: “InChorus had been without an MD for some months because the pandemic restrictions prevented our large choir meeting potential candidates in person.

“We thank Au for his patience in waiting for us, and are very pleased that he is with us now.”

InChorus will return to singing for audiences this winter with a performance at this year’s Peebles Christmas Lights Switch On on Sunday, November 28.

They will then sing at Pentland Plants in Edinburgh on December 11 and at Jupiter Artland Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 12.

Au added: “I have encouraged the choir to take part in some Christmas events to build our performance confidence.

“After that we will be working on something different.

“InChorus prides itself in being open to new musical experiences and I intend to give them that.”

To find out more about InChorus, including how to join the choir, contact Cath at: manager@inchoruschoir.co.uk, through the website on www.inchoruschoir.co.uk, on Facebook or Twitter.