Alvin M. Keeling 
A West Island women’s choir celebrated its 10th anniversary with a fundraising coffee morning.
The ‘Mraane anys Arrane’ choir, or ‘Women In Song’, marked their first 10 years of singing together by hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed coffee morning at the Peel Centenary Center on Friday morning, which raised 300 £ for the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group.
The community choir, which was founded by Cleveland medalist and musical director Karen Elliott on February 12, 2012, was originally known as the Isle of Man Women’s Institute Choir.
He was originally formed to compete in a competition devised by the WI to celebrate his centenary.
The choir quickly grew to nearly 30 members and reached the final, held in Birmingham in 2015.
They have also appeared regularly at the Manx Music Festival, on one occasion winning the coveted Manchester Shield and have also traveled to the Bangor International Choral Festival, Northern Ireland.
In 2017, during a concert tour in Belgium, they participated in The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.
The choir severed its ties with the WI in 2018, adopting the Manx Gaelic name ‘Mranne anys Arrane’, which translates to ‘Women in Song’, and the choir has continued to grow and now has around 40 members. as permanent attendant, Karen’s husband, John Elliott.
They are now a community choir, helping churches and charities raise funds by performing concerts, helping to raise over £5,000 for eight local charities. The choir is planning another off-island concert tour in 2023.
For details, contact choir secretary Su Collins on 844918.
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