SHETLAND LOCAL TO STAR IN SPECTACULAR HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT PRODUCTION
PRESS RELEASE 22ND JULY 2010 SHETLAND LOCAL TO STAR IN SPECTACULAR HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT PRODUCTION Jillian Isbister (21) will be taking to the stage for the impressive Highland Heartbeat live shows at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort this summer. Highland Heartbeat is a television and live concert music show, soon to be broadcast on BBC2, highlighting the best of Scottish talent. The live show consists of singers and musicians specialising in both traditional and contemporary Scottish Music which aims to touch hearts by weaving together audiences through beautiful songs, music and landscape. The Macdonald Aviemore Resort’s main auditorium will be home to Highland Heartbeat on 29, 30 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2010. Jillian was born and raised in Sand on Shetland and attended Anderson High School where she grew up surrounded by the strong musical influences of the islands which inspired her to take up singing and to learn the piano at the age of eight. She developed her career on the mainland with her first performance at Celtic Connections in Glasgow where she won a ‘Danny’ award in 2005, one of only 6 awarded each year to newcomers from all over the world. As a result of this, she was invited back to perform in 2006, and ended up with 9 performances over the 3 weeks! One of these performances was the master and apprentice, giving her the opportunity to perform alongside Eddi Reader and her band. Jillian won her part in the Highland Heartbeat cast by taking part in Scotland wide auditions, judged by Fiona Kennedy, the show’s creator and Phil Cunningham, the famous Scottish music star. Fiona Kennedy, creator of Highland Heartbeat, said: "Jillian is a whirlwind of talent - she is blessed with a beautiful unique voice, full of warmth and she is a joyful person to boot!" Since starting with Highland Heartbeat in 2008, Jillian has sung at venues in America and Scotland and met many prestigious and influential artists including Beth Nielsen Chapman who she got the opportunity to sing on stage with at one of Beth’s UK tour dates. Jillian also performs both solo, accompanying herself on piano, and as part of a group. She has recently released a 4 track EP entitled ‘Ma Smaa Temple’ the title track of which she wrote the music. Tracks from this EP have regularly received radio play, both locally and on Radio Scotland. Gerry McGee, chief executive, Macdonald Aviemore Resort, said: “Having Jillian perform as part of Highland Heartbeat at the Resort is a huge coupe. Her talent speaks for itself and I’m sure that the show, with its range of traditional and contemporary Scottish music and its young and talented cast will delight our audiences.” Summer 2010 will see Highland Heartbeat produce a series of special talent workshops. The workshops, which are open to the public, will be held twice daily from 10am – 11.30am for 5-11 years and 2.30pm – 4.30pm for 12-17 years on 29, 30 July and 4, 5, 18, 19 August 2010. The workshops will offer attendees the chance to learn songs from the show, have professional singing tuition, choreography and breathing lessons. Everyone taking part in the workshops will have the opportunity to join the group on stage during one of the highly anticipated live shows. The Macdonald Aviemore Resort lies in the heart of Aviemore and the Cairngorms National Park. With something for everyone, the Resort includes four hotels and 18 luxury woodland lodges, a selection of high quality restaurants, The Spey Valley Championship Golf Course, The Vital Spa, Spey Valley Cinema, Gym, child friendly Spey Valley Leisure Arena with swimming pool, flumes, wave machine and the Aviemore Adventure Club. The Macdonald Aviemore Resort boasts unrivalled conference facilities with the ability to deliver the largest and smallest events to the highest standard. The Resort features a 650 seater auditorium, flexible 1,260m² Osprey Arena with a maximum capacity of 1100, the Peregrine Suite which can seat over 300 for lunch or dinner, eight individual meeting rooms for up to 100 delegates, banquet catering for up to 850, car parking for up to 600 cars, extensive coach parking facilities and 400 ensuite bedrooms. Delegates can also take advantage of the Resort’s private bars and up to 30Mb internet access. Tickets Tickets available from - Macdonald Aviemore Resort - T: 0844 879 9152 Highland Heartbeat Tickets Prices: Adults - £7.50 Families - £20.00 Highland Heartbeat Early Bird Offer (can be bought up to 1pm on day of performance) Adults - £6.00 Families - £15.00 Workshop Tickets Prices: Non-residents £6.00 Residents and High-Life Members £5.00 ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS: Highland Heartbeat began in 2008 when the American television company, PBS, approached Fiona asking her to find outstandingly talented young singers from Scotland for a television special which would broadcast coast to coast across America Highland Heartbeat Cast Information Stage Director - Sheridan Nicol Musical Director - David Munro Sound - Cammy Campbell Cast of singers - Fiona Kennedy, Ross William Wild, Jillian Isbister, Frances McCann and Rachel Oates Musicians - Jenn Butterworth, Fraser Fifield, Paul Jennings, Fraser Stone and Blair McMillan Photo Caption Picture 1 – Highland Heartbeat Cast with Macdonald Aviemore Resort Chief Executive Gerry McGee (L-R) Fiona Kennedy, Frances McCann, Jillian Isbister, Gerry McGee, Ross William Wild and Rachel Oates Picture 2 – Jillian Isbister This information and further details from Eilidh Macleod at Denvir T: 01786 435 182 E: eilidh@denvirmarketing.com
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