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Heather Cairncross

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Heather Cairncross meeting Jazz Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie at Wolftrap

A Postcard From My Past – Meeting Dizzy Gillespie At Wolftrap

Heather Cairncross meeting Jazz Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie at Wolftrap

This is one of my favourite photographs! I think it was taken about 1989, when I was a member of the Swingle Singers. We were on an American tour and were invited to perform at the Wolftrap Performing Arts Centre in Washington D.C. It was a big televised concert for PBS and we sang both the solo and choral parts of Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music with the orchestra. In the second half we did a few a cappella numbers, including our party piece, Tchaikovsy’s 1812 Overture.

Backstage there were so many interesting people and everybody gathered in the Green Room to watch the show on the small television. In this photo I’ve plucked up the courage to ask the legendary Jazz Trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie to sign my programme. Another star was Chita Rivera, who played the original firebrand Anita in the 1957 production of Bernstein’s West Side Story, which made her a Broadway star. She must have been about 56 when we met at Wolftrap and she still kicked her leg right over her head. I also remember she had two very young and pretty boy dancers who with dancing with her, wearing next to nothing!

The hall was amazingand  it’s back walls could open up to grassy slopes outside where people picnicked whilst watching the show. I couldn’t resist showing you three more pictures. One is of the empty hall, another picture of Dizzy, with a great expression on his face and the final one is of me and a wonderful blues singer, laughing backstage. I can’t remember her name and if anybody recognises her, I would love to know it!

Wolftrap auditorium

Dizzy Gillespie backstage at Wolftrap

Heather Cairncross and ??? Laughing backstage at Wolftrap

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on A Postcard From My Past – Meeting Dizzy Gillespie At Wolftrap.
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    […] “Music For 18 Musicians”.  She’s also shared another “Postcard From My Past”, this time meeting Dizzy Gillespie and doesn’t she look young then!   She’s recorded the 2nd episode of her podcast too, so […]

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Heather Cairncross Singer

4 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Take 2!

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Heather Cairncross Singer

5 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

UPDATE. Well it seems it was too good to be true….following the government’s unclear announcement the managers of the pub have cancelled the jazz for now. I’m really sorry if you’ve booked a table but you now need to call and cancel to make sure they don’t take your deposit. Hopefully we’ll revive this gig in the near future. I KNOW!!!! This Sunday lunchtime in Brighton

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Heather Cairncross Singer

5 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

The Swingles & The Stay at Home Choir – You’re All I Need to Get By

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Video

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Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

In the absence of any live Prom concerts (courtesy of Covid 19), the BBC is re-running many gems from previous years. Tonight on BBC4 at 19.00 is @johnwilsonorchestra with a starry cast of soloists and the ever splendid @maidavalesingers in ‘The Broadway Sound’. Possibly the campest ever prom?Back in 2012 when this concert was recorded, I still wrote a backstage blog which may interest some of you – it seems a lifetime ago and I sincerely hope that those wonderful concerts will be back in business next year – in fact any concerts…..the prospects seems rather bleak at the moment.heathercairncross.com/the-broadway-sound-singing-in-the-john-wilson-prom-2012/

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Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Oh yes indeed, it’s the one where I have the six word Jimmy Durante stylee solo

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Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

A message from wonderful and prolific choral composer James Macmillan.

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James MacMillan: Let’s get Scotland singing again

www.scotsman.com

As we move out of lockdown, a return to putting our voices together in song should be welcomed for the good of the nation, writes Sir James MacMillan

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A Postcard From My Past - Meeting Dizzy Gillespie At Wolftrap - Heather Cairncross UK Jazz Singer