Yvonne Burgess: musician, choir director, writer in Scotland

Hi! Do you live in Edinburgh or Fife, and would you like to sing regularly without having to audition first? If so - and even if not - read on to get a sense of who I am and how I work - the range of material, the background, and the atmosphere in my choirs and singing workshops.

This is me on the beach at Fisherrow - the Portobello end of Musselburgh, where I've been living for a couple of years now. (I don't know what the elephant's doing there.) Sea views to the north, sun to the south, 66 steps (up) from the street to the jungle of pot plants by the front door.

Latest News - Summer update (apologies for leaving this so long):

  • Summerhouse will be meeting this year in St Philip's Church Hall, Brunstane Road North, in Joppa - right next to the Portobello Prom (and near the Dalriada Bar). Six Wednesday evenings, 7:30-9:30 starting July 15th. Cost: 40.00 for all 6 sessions.

  • We are getting very excited about Kerry in June - though sadly, Ruth Elswood will not be with us this year. Everyone has rallied round to cover this significant gap in our eating plans, and it looks set to be another memorable week.

  • 25 July & 15 August - Special Summer Spirituals days - the first summertime spirituals! 10:30am-4:30pm at Stockbridge Parish Church, and the cost is 25.00 for each day (20.00 concessions). Please ring me if you would like to attend.

  • Toende (Swahili for 'let's go'!), the children's choir at St John's Primary School in Portobello, is going really well. They are writing and singing their own songs as well as lots of African, some of mine and some miscellaneous.

  • ***NEW CHOIR IN THE AUTUMN!!*** Growing out of the long-running Bring Your Own Harmony class, and with the idea of accommodating the hordes of people keen to sing since Voicehouse has had to cap its membership and have a waiting list, a new choir called All Together Now will meet in the Boroughmuir School Atrium on Tuesdays from 7-9pm. This will be advertised in the Scots Music Group publicity. Start date will be in September 2009, date to be confirmed. The emphasis will be on finding our own harmonies and bringing our own songs to sing, and there will be opportunities to get together in smaller groups and work on arrangements with assistance from me.

  • Our Autumn Caputh weekend - November 13-15 - filled up very fast - but we'll be going again in the Spring. Watch this space!

  • Voicehowff is growing steadily and we had another summer Come-all-ye in Auchtermuchty's Upper Town Hall on Friday June 19th.

  • Voice House Due to overwhelming interest, Voice House has started a waiting list for new members. If you're a returning member or willing to sing bass, do come along, otherwise visit the Voice House web site to find out more about the waiting list. http://www.voicehouse.org.uk

  • Other forthcoming workshops outside Edinburgh:
    Sunday 11 October, Leeds.