BORDERS singers are set to perform in both New York and Berlin to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War.

Director James Robertson and the Lauderdale Community Choir have been invited to participate in the US Premiere performance of Paul Mealor’s Requiem – The Souls of the Righteous in the Carnegie Hall.

The memorable performance will take place on Armistice Day, Sunday November 11 under the baton of Welsh Composer Paul Mealor.

A group of 10 choristers from Lauderdale will be joining other singers from around the world to form the Distinguished Concerts Singers International – a choir of around 250 of talented amateur singers.

Dr Jonathon Griffith, artistic director and principal conductor, told us: "The Lauderdale Community Choir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers, as well as the exceptional quality of their audition recording."

The participating singers from Lauderdale Community Choir have been practising the new piece over the last few weeks and are now preparing to fly out to New York to join up with the rest of the international choir.

And in a further endorsement of the quality of musicianship demonstrated by the Lauderdale Community Choir, one of the singers, Emma Emmerson, has been selected to sing as a featured soloist in the performance.

Emma said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for our choir, to perform on such a famous stage and on such an important and emotional occasion.

"To be able to represent our local community choir on a world platform like this is an honour, and the whole group feels very proud of the choir and all that we have achieved under the leadership of our talented director, James Robertson.”

Another group from the choir has also been invited to Berlin to sing in another performance to mark the centenary of Armistice Day, in a historic televised performance of Karl Jenkin’s The Armed Man.

The organisers of this multi-media concert for peace are anticipating that around 2000 singers from 27 countries will join forces to sing this multi-faith and multi-language contemporary masterpiece.

A specially made film will be projected onto screens, syncronised with the music, to make this a concert to remember.

This concert will be performed in the Mercedes-Benz Arena this week and will be conducted by Karl Jenkins with the World Orchestra for Peace.

The Lauderdale Community Choir is a mixed voice choir attracting members from throughout the Scottish Borders.

The groups meets every Thursday evening in the Lauder Public Hall to enjoy singing a wide range of music, and puts on an annual concert at Earlston High School.

Membership reflects the community by welcoming people of all ages from different walks of life, and with varying musical experience.

Members find that singing with a friendly sociable group helps them live with personal challenges, and helps to boost well-being and self-confidence.

The Choir contributes to the local community by raising money for local charities, and spreading the joy and enthusiasm that singing together gives us all.

For further information please contact Emma Emmerson on emmersonatndg@gmail.com or call her on 07826 546903