MOTHERWELL LOCAL CHOSEN TO STAR IN SPECTACULAR HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT PRODUCTION

PRESS RELEASE 22ND JULY 2010 Rachel Oates (18) from Motherwell 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. Rachel was born and raised in Motherwell and showed an early enthusiasm for performing. She attended Taylor High School, where she continued to develop her skills in drama, singing and dance, giving her an eagerness to work in musical theatre. Rachel left high school in 2010 and decided to take part in Highland Heartbeat’s Scotland wide auditions, judged by Fiona Kennedy, the show’s creator and Phil Cunningham, the famous Scottish music star. Rachel went on to win a place in the cast because of her outstanding musical talent and will tour extensively with the Highland Heartbeat production this summer. Fiona Kennedy, creator of Highland Heartbeat, said: "Rachel has a wonderful voice and lovely presence on stage and it's great to have her in our cast. I'm sure she has a great career ahead of her." Although Rachel is just starting out in a career in musical theatre, she recently represented Scotland by performing in the National Youth Theatre's showcase of Billy Elliot shown in the Victoria Palace in London. Gerry McGee, chief executive, Macdonald Aviemore Resort, said: “Having Rachel 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 Families £7.50 £20.00 Highland Heartbeat Early Bird Offer (can be bought up to 1pm on day of performance) Adults Families £6.00 £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 This information and further details from Eilidh Macleod at Denvir T: 01786 435 182 E: eilidh@denvirmarketing.com

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