MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE – 29 NOV 2102
SCOTLAND SINGS 2O12 – PRESENTS SCOTLAND AS THE SINGING NATION
Scotland Sings is a brand new national singing project taking place, not only across Scotland – but right here in NSW!
It’s been organised to mark St Andrew’s Day tomorrow, and over this weekend. The events will celebrate and present Scotland’s rich singing traditions, and encourage new participants and audiences to enjoy community singing events taking place.
Macarthur resident, Rhona MacLeod, a Scot and a singer, stumbled across the initiative by chance, only last week on ‘Facebook’ – and enquired if it was only limited to those living in Scotland. The organisers gave a typical warm Scottish welcome to Rhona’s idea of some activities being organised here in Australia! They plan to go International next year.
Tomorrow, St Andrew’s Day, Rhona will be recording some Scottish songs – some with her former singing partner, Margaret Connor, from the Southern Highlands – with Seamus Byrne who will then broadcast them from Hill Top, on his weekly Podcast: ‘Shay Down Under’.
On Saturday, Dec 1st, at the regular folk music and song session in Balmoral Village, in the Southern Highlands, Rhona has asked the regulars and some new friends to come prepared to sing, or at least join in with, the Scottish songs. She said: “St Patrick’s Day is always celebrated with great enthusiasm and passion – so I think it’s high time we Scots did the same here!”
-ENDS –
Local Contact:
Rhona MacLeod, on 0423 152 700 – for further information about her singing, her forthcoming CD [Dreams to Sell] and/or local events.
For further details on ‘Scotland Sings’, please visit the website: www.scotlandsings.co.uk
Media Contact:
Kirsty Atkinson
Wire Media Ltd
Tel: +44 141 440 6761
E: kirsty@wire-media.co.uk
Scotland Sings is co-ordinated by ‘Hands Up For Trad’ and is supported by Creative Scotland and other leading Governmental Agencies.
It also has links with a number of related organisations e.g. The Scottish Story Telling Centre, The Traditional Music and Song Association and The Association of Gaelic Choirs.
The positive health and social benefits of singing have been the subject of research, and have contributed to the impetus to develop this initiative.