A Tayside sheriff is to take a very different seat from that on the bench of his court when he lends his support and musical talent to a novel fund-raiser today.
The organ in the Caird Hall, Dundee, will ring out almost non-stop today as part of a day-long sponsored effort to raise funds for the upkeep of the internationally-renowned instrument.
The Organathon has been put together by the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ and among those they have enlisted for a 20-minute sponsored slot in the 10am to 4pm event is resident Forfar sheriff Kevin Veal, who was looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with the exquisite 88-year-old instrument.
Sheriff Veal, musical director of Dundee’s Cecilian Choir, will be joined by friend and trumpeter Bill Boyle, with whom he shared one of his proudest moments in the spectacular setting of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“In April 2009 the Cecilian Choir sang in St Peter’s Basilica and I played the organ there,” he said. “At the conclusion of the mass Bill also played a solo trumpet piece.
“We have played together on a number of occasions, but most famously at that event in Rome, and I am looking forward to being part of this fund-raiser with Bill.
“We have been given the slot between 12.20pm and 12.40pm on Saturday and, while we have yet to finalise our selection, it is likely to include pieces by Telemann, John Stanley and Henry Purcell.”