The choir was founded in 1953 and was the brainchild of Mr James Armour who was Headmaster of Auchinleck Junior Secondary School at that time. Nine ladies attended the first practice.
Although the choir had never been a large one, it always had a steady membership, usually numbering in the twenties.
There were ladies from Cumnock, New Cumnock, Mauchline and, of course, Auchinleck. Mr Armour was the first conductor and Miss Elsa King was accompanist until she married and went to live in Kilwinning, when Mrs Grace Wilson took over.
The choir sang mostly three part songs with the occasional two part one. Concerts were given throughout the area, at Catrine and Cumnock and as far away as Dundonald.
The choir presented its own concert in 1960 in the Barony Hall, when the guest artists were Dr C. D. Rigg and Mrs Jean Thomson, an elocutionist from Ochiltree. In addition the choir twice won the Carnell Challenge Trophy for Ladies Choirs at the Ayrshire Music Festival.
In 1959 they won the Loudoun Challenge Trophy in the Premier class, gaining exceedingly high praise from the adjudicators and having the honour of taking part in the Festival Concert.
In 1961 Mr Armour, having been unwell for sometime, died. During his illness Mr James H. Yates and Dr Rigg assisted at the practices. The ladies of the choir decided to ask Dr Rigg if he would take over as conductor and he willingly consented to do so.
The choir carried on for a few more years until the formation of the Barony Operatic and Dramatic Society (B.O.D.S.). The membership of the choir had been falling and it was decided to end the choir’s life while it was still active. Most of the members joined the B.O.D.S. and enjoyed many happy concerts over the next few years.
Auchinleck has always possessed great musical talent, due to the efforts of Mr James H. Yates, Mr James Armour, Rev G. A. McCutcheon, Dr C. D. Rigg and, latterly, Mr Craig MacMillan. It is a great pity that the only choir we have in Auchinleck now is the Church Choir under the baton of the organist, Mr Bill Garven. Perhaps in the future choirs will be raised again and Auchinleck will once more echo to the sound of voices in harmony.
