The Exile Choir

The Origin Scotland Choir

While this group is newly formed in 2009, it was created out of one of the oldest groups involved in Origin. We started performing with a choir in 1997, holding events at Carrubbers Christian Centre in Edinburgh, and in 2000 moved into larger venues such as the Edinburgh Playhouse, Usher Hall and Festival Theatre.

For many years the main Origin choir had an open admissions policy, but in 2009 we decided to restructure our musical groups and formed the Exile Choir as an invitiation or audition-only group. We believe in a high standard of performance and want to raise the bar on Christian performing arts in Edinburgh.

Our first event was 'Light of the World' in December 2009 in the Usher Hall. We intend to make this an annual outing for the choir, and will also invite other groups to join with us in this event. In the first concert, we included the Origin Praise Choir and the choir of St Peter's Primary School in Edinburgh. Commitment to the group is seasonal, and tends to be only for one month of rehearsals prior to a major event. It is possible also to commit for just one event and then decide later if you want to sing in the next one or not.

We suspended the choir for a few years, but we're once again recuiting for our new choir. Join us! - we have a clear mission: to reach out to the world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and are always looking for people to join us on the journey. You can email choir at originscotland dot org for more information on how to arrange an audition.

	Choirmaster Jamie Lang Jamie studied music at Edinburgh Napier University graduating in 2015. Since then he has worked as a freelance pianist in and around Edinburgh and now works for George Watson's College as a piano teacher and accompanist. He is a member of Musselburgh Baptist Church where he has led the music ministry for a number of years and joined Origin in 2019.
	Choir Manager Heather Merriman Heather is a qualified paediatric nurse who has been involved with Origin since 2005. She worships at Currie Baptist Church where she is involved in a wide range of ministries (children and youth, worship, teaching). Heather believes being part of God's plan and doing His work to be the most important and ultimately satisfying thing in life.

Inclusion in any Origin programme is at the discretion of the organisers.