The group which became the Scottish Festival Singers actually started life in the early 1960s as the Toad Choir, based in Greenock. Their conductor and founder was Ian McCrorie who got together with young friends just because they liked singing. Within a few years they had become well known nationally thanks to their many appearances on BBC television's 'Songs of Praise' programme. Ten years later a new orchestra had been formed in Scotland - the Scottish Chamber Orchestra - and they turned to the Toads to provide them with a choir. Expanded to include members from all over Scotland's central belt, the choir changed its name to Scottish Philharmonic Singers. For some fifteen years, they sang regularly with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, appearing with such conductors as James Conlon, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Simon Rattle, mainly in Scotland but also at Festivals in England and Mainland Europe. In addition, they frequently broadcast with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and made several recordings on tape or CD. When the association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra ceased, the choir continued to sing, but under their present name, the change in nomenclature coming about because they were asked to take part in a 'Requiem for Lockerbie' at the Edinburgh International Festival. In addition to Scottish Symphony Orchestra commitments, the choir has more recently cut several discs of hymns and psalms, acclaimed for the vibrancy of the singing; they were usually accompanied by one of Scotland's greatest organists, John Langdon. For each Christmas in their 45-year existence, the choir has given a Carol Concert in Greenock, where it all began.