Kilmarnock Amateur Operatic Society concert is a success

Nov 21 2008 by Ian Russell, Kilmarnock Standard

KILMARNOCK Amateur Operatic Society continues to provide help and support for Food4Africa’s Khandandlovu crèche in southern Kwazulu-Natal.

The society’s successful annual 50/50 Christmas concert raised £4000 for this worthy cause, but also served as a tribute to former secretary Allan Irving, who sadly passed away suddenly at the end of March.

The audience, including Provost Stephanie Young, enjoyed a musical extravaganza led by the KAOS amateur chorus, the 52-piece Gordon Cree Concert Orchestra and special guest Joan Savage.

Shows featured in the concert included Oklahoma, Miss Saigon and the King and I, when the children who will appear in the Palace Theatre version of the show in 2009 sang ‘Shall We Dance’.

The concert included a Remembrance Day tribute and concluded with a rousing medley of Scottish tunes, featuring pipers from Ayrshire schools.

Provost Stephanie Young said: “It costs just £800 a year to feed 50 children, so £4000 will help to feed the children for four years and provide playground equipment. It will make a big difference.

“I know this was a cause close to Allan Irving’s heart and he would be proud to see such good work continuing. I believe he would also have been proud to hear the society chorus in such fine voice.”

Food4Africa now feeds more than 17,000 orphaned children every day.

Over the years, KAOS has become one of its largest supporters with over £7200 raised so far. This sum of money amounts to 144,000 meals for orphaned children.