History of Sangstream

The choir was founded in 1997 by Scots Music Group, and led by traditional musician Christine Kydd.  It became independent in 1999, but remaining affiliated to SMG. We started off meeting in Boroughmuir school at its former location on Viewforth.

From 2000 to 2003 our MD was Jenny Clark, one time member of the seminal Scottish folk group Battlefield Band..  Amongst the highlights from Jenny's time were appearances at Arran, Killin and Coldstream folk festivals.

Jenny was followed as MD from 2003 to 2015 by the groundbreaking Scottish musician Mairi Campbell.  We had many memorable concerts and exciting trips during Mairi's time, travelling to Barga in Italy, to Naestved in Denmark and to Exeter.  Mairi is well known for her arrangement of 'Auld Lang Syne', and we were privileged to back her when she performed it at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2008.  On our YouTube channel, as well as that performance, you'll find find videos of several songs arranged by Mairi, such as Keep You in Peace, Christmas Song, Baltic Street, When the Snows of Winter Fall, Cauld Blaws the Wind and Hard Winter.



From 2015 to 2018 our development continued when Corrina Hewat joined us for the first time.   In 2015 we staged 'Drinkers and Thinkers', a narrated show about the Edinburgh Enlightment.  We also took part in an amazing multi-choir event at the Usher Hall in 2018 - 'Edinburgh Sings', which Corrina played a central role in,

2017 saw us leave Boroughmuir School which had been our home since we were set up, moving to James Gillespies High School.   

From 2018 to 2020 our MD was Robyn Stapleton, well-known traditional singer, song tutor and performer.  She was the 2014 BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.   Standout concert was probably taking part a tribute to Hamish Henderson, commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth. 

2020 was of course the year of Covid, and like every other music group, we had a major challenge,  Corrina had already agreed to return as MD and did a wonderful job motivating people and keeping spirits up with well attended Zoom sessions.   She even directed an online video of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Swing' set to her own music, and involving over 30 of us sending in home recordings,   Here's the beautiful result:



Covid was followed by difficulties getting a permanent rehearsal venue, but since February 2024 we've been settled into St Thomas of Aquins school.   We've had more great concerts, including a tribute to the Scottish coal miners at the National Mining Museum and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and our first concert in the historic surroundings of St Cecilia's Hall.   We made a memorable trip in 2023 to a choral festival in Sardinia - the 'International Choral Festival Al Sole Della Sardegna'.

The summer of 2023 saw us celebrate (slightly belatedly) our 25th birthday at Inch House with a large turnout of past and former members, and MDs.