In September 1988 Ian Anderson (pictured), then Principal Teacher of Music at Stanely Green High School in Paisley, was asked to form a choir to give a performance of Handel's Messiah as part of Greenlaw Church's centenary. Following the success of that venture, it was decided to constitute the Paisley Philharmonic Choir on a permanent basis.

Since then the Choir has grown to its present strength of approximately 70 members, covering a wide age range and drawing people from the Paisley area and beyond. The Choir presents three concerts each year in Paisley Town Hall in December, March and May.

In addition the Choir has presented many concerts in aid of charity. Over the years we have raised substantial sums of money for Cystic Fibrosis, the Yorkhill Scanner Appeal, Riding for the Disabled, Cancer Research, the British Diabetic Association, Multiple Sclerosis, Christian Aid, the Roy Castle Lung Foundation and others.

In addition, the Choir undertakes several one-off projects. In autumn 2004, for example, we completed the recording of a Christmas CD in association with the Scottish Co-Op Band.

The Choir's repertoire is extensive and includes carols, folk songs, spirituals, motets, madrigals, Scottish songs and choruses from opera, operetta and musicals. Each May we perform a concert of some of the finest oratorios in the choral repertoire.