The University of Glasgow Chapel Choir will next week embark upon a charity tour of America's East Coast singing concerts to raise funds for families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A preview of the tour concert will be performed on Saturday 15 June in the University Chapel at 7.30pm.

Almost 30 choir members will sing traditional choral music from Scotland and the rest of the UK to raise money for families affected by the events of September 11. During the tour a book of condolence, signed by over 1,000 people in the University Chapel, will be presented to the Mayor of New York in St Thomas Church. A reception for University of Glasgow alumni will also be held during the tour, at the British Embassy in Washington D.C.

Tour organiser, Giles Brightwell, who is University Organist and Director of the Chapel Choir, said: "We are very much looking forward to the tour and although we don't leave for the States until next week, we have already been overwhelmed by people's generosity. Donations from individual choir members and from within the University and beyond have enabled us to cover our travel expenses, which means that all the money raised by us through the concerts will go directly to charity. We are proud to be performing at such prestigious venues, and especially to be doing so in commemoration of families affected by the events of September 11."

• Each of the choir members will be staying with host families, who are providing food and accommodation
• The choir will be joined by prestigious US organists and conductors, all of whom have given their services for free
• Every concert venue has waived its fees
• Donations towards costs have been received from within the University, from the Trades House Glasgow and raised by charity events
• Ede & Ravenscroft, robemakers, have donated new choir robes.

The University Choir will perform concerts at churches in Maryland, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City. They will be singing concerts and services at eight of America's most prestigious venues, including Washington National Cathedral, Princeton University Chapel and St Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue, New York City. A prayer service attended by senior figures including Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan was broadcast live from St Thomas Church in memory of British victims of the attacks.

For further information please see
http://www.chapelchoir.org

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Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

• A pre tour concert will be held on Saturday 15 June at 7.30pm in the University Chapel. Tickets cost ?6 or ?3 for concessions.
• On Sunday 16 June festival services will be held. Communion will take place at 11am and evensong, featuring combined choirs of the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Cathedral, will commence at 6pm.
• For further information contact Giles Brightwell, University Organist and Director of the Chapel Choir on 0141 330 5419 or the University Press Office on 0141 330 3535
• The US choir tour will take place from Saturday 22 June to Sunday 30 June

First published: 13 June 2002