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

  • Spirituals Workshops. The next Spirituals Saturdays will be held on 19 April and 10 May, from 10:30am-4:30pm at Stockbridge Parish Church. Contact me if you would like to attend.

  • Jammies concert, 29 May 2008, Penicuik. We will be performing at the Penicuik Arts Centre (above the Belgian Embassy in Penicuik) on Thursday 29 May. More details to follow.

  • Musical skills day. The February musical skills day brought together people interested in an intensive (but relaxed) afternoon of musical skills building, for example: songwriting, harmonising, how to write and read music, etc. I am thinking about having two more such days, on 24 May and 14 June 2008 - contact me if you are interested in participating, and let me know what your particular areas of interest are.

  • Voice Howff are planning to have a concert at the beginning of May - currently planned for 2 May in Auchtermuchty. Stay tuned for more details.

  • US Trip. In late November-December 2007 I spent four weeks in Florida and Louisiana, visiting friends of mine from my time there in 1981-82. This was a really special trip, beginning with Thanksgiving in Florida - my first experience of the family warmth of that festival.

    My friends in New Orleans gave me a guided tour of the post-Katrina city and told me many stories that helped me understand the trauma and aftermath of that cataclysm just a little better than I had been able to from a distance.

    Revisiting Baton Rouge was very moving. From being a fairly sleepy backwater, it has become the biggest city in Louisiana, population-wise, and much more aware of its sister city. I gather it even has a bit of a night life these days! One of my friends there is a blues musician, and I've promised to send him a tape of some of my own blues numbers for possible recording on their next CD. Watch this space!

  • Caputh weekend, 7-9 March 2008. Continuing the new tradition of serious good fun in lovely Tayside, Perthshire, the next Caputh weekend is being held from 7-9 March (now fully booked up).

  • My summer break. I had a lovely summer last year, including a week in a beautiful spot on the Ring of Kerry, which has inspired me and my friend Ruth to organise a singing week there this summer (28 June - 5 July 2008). Later in the summer I spent a relaxing and enriching fortnight at Laurieston Hall, near Castle Douglas. In the first week I was a singing tutor on "Song and Dance", which is a family week with a kids' club, circle dancing, dressing up, saunas and swimming in the loch, besides singing round the bonfire and eating brilliant food. The second was a week of singing world harmonies - during which I was completely blown away by the excitement of Corsican singing, as well as learning some more South African choral pieces. My attendance at the second week was paid for by Voice House, for which many thanks. They are now singing the proceeds!

  • heartRecent recordings. the Jammies' first CD, "Like a Bell", is still available from Yvonne. Also, a third CD of spirituals is now available. This is the first in a series called "Songs of the Earth and Heart".

  • Pop choir is still actively recruiting new members. Get in touch with me if you'd like to come along.