Madrigirls was formed in 2000 by co-directors Katy Lavinia Cooper and Catriona Downie. Then undergraduates at Glasgow University, Katy is now the University’s Director of Chapel Music and Catriona an arts marketing professional. Madrigirls is run voluntarily and consists of around 40 singers - mostly undergraduates, postgraduates, alumni and friends of the University. We were initially an all-female group but have since redefined ourselves as a more inclusive upper voice choir, and over the past 23 years have had over 250 members! As well as our annual Advent Carol Concert in the University Chapel we sing in venues across Scotland and perform regularly as part of Glasgow’s West End Festival. We also run workshops for groups of all abilities. We have appeared on BBC Radio Scotland and featured on Radio 3's The Choir. We have also featured in Channel 4's 4.thought series and in the BBC TV drama Fiona's Story, which was nominated for 3 BAFTAs. We recently recorded the soundtrack for Darren Hercher’s BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Dooman, and for Our Ladies - Michael Caton-Jones big-screen adaption of The Sopranos by Alan Warner. We have recorded 4 CDs - Nevermas (2006), Return Again (2010), Songs of Starlight (2012) and Leaves of Life (2016), and in 2024 we were nominated for the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award. 

Katy and Catriona

Katy Lavinia Cooper 
Katy is co-director, co-founder and conductor of Madrigirls. She is Director of Chapel Music at the University of Glasgow and works extensively as a choral conductor, arranger and workshop leader throughout the UK. She completed a PhD focussing on seventeenth century Scottish vocal music in 2016. Katy is a tutor for Sing for Pleasure and a member of folk group, Muldoon's Picnic.

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Catriona Downie
Catriona Downie is co-founder and co-director of Madrigirls. She is an experienced choral singer, who by day works for Scottish Opera. She sang with the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir for many years, and is a member of Sang Scule, an ensemble specialising in early Scottish choral music. Catriona loves to write and regularly pens lyrics for Madrigirls, as well as other choirs around Glasgow. 'In a stable bare', written with Katy for younger children, has been published by Sing for Pleasure.

Collaborations

Collaboration has been an integral part of our activity since we started in 2001. From composers to visual artists, to poets and instrumentalists - we love to work with other people and stretch our creativity. If you're interested in working with us - please reach out! We're open to most things!

Composers and musicians including
Emily Hall, Jessica Curry, Frank LaRocca, Drew Hammond, Emily Doolittle, Drew Mulholland, Claire Docherty, Lisa Robertson, Alison Marshall, Ronald Law, Alison Eales, Jo Mango, Guy Veale, Neil McDermott, Roddy Hart, Tommy Reilly & Daisy Abbott

Artists including
Gillian Gamble, Odeta Brazeniene, Rhian Nicholas (Passenger Press), Darren Hercher & Jennie Scammel

Other choirs and ensembles including
Fenham Ensemble, Muldoon's Picnic, University of Glasgow Chapel Choir & Schola Glasguensis