LOCAL YOUTH CHOIR 'INSPIRE' OVERSEAS DIPLOMATS

BANFFSHIRE GROUP PERFORM AT FIRST MINISTER'S CONSULAR RECEPTION AT EDINBURGH CASTLE

A choir of young people from Banffshire performed at Edinburgh Castle last night in front of Scotland's Consular Corps, representing around 50 countries.

Banff & Buchan MP and First Minister Alex Salmond invited the Inspire Choir to travel to the capital after they performed at the official launch of his 2009 Christmas Card at Duff House, Banff.

Mr Salmond said:

"I'm delighted that the young people in the Inspire Choir agreed to perform at Edinburgh Castle for this special event. The Inspire Choir lives up to its name and I'm sure that all of the Consular representatives will enjoy the performance as much as those of us who heard them at Duff House did."

Inspire Choir's musical director Hannah McGinlay, 20, said:

"We were really excited to be invited to Edinburgh to sing at the Castle for the reception hosted by the First Minister. We hope that everybody enjoys our performance."

Background:

55 countries are represented in the Scottish Consular Corps, from full diplomatic consulates to honorary consulates.

Led by Ms McGinlay and choir director Hugh Johnstone, 19, Inspire Choir is a group of 8-to 18-year-olds who have sung at more than 50 local concerts, as well as performing in Paris and singing with Keith Jack, runner-up in BBC's Any Dream Will Do. They performed at the unveiling of the Gerard Burns painting featured on the First Minister's 2009 Christmas Card - the sale of which will support four charities, CLIC Sargent, Glasgow the Caring City, J-A-C-K Foundation and Mary's Meals.