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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.
  1. TBSF 010 | Business Diary | Blackberry Tarts & Ripples Turning To Tsunamis | Business Success Factory | Business Marketing | Internet Marketing
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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

2 days ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

A Lesser spotted August Jazz gig!We are delighted to reveal the musicians who will play at this year’s Winchfield Festival. Eight nights from Saturday 7th August until Saturday 14th August. Sat 7 Aug: The Festival opens with the electrifying Tango Siempre, UK’s leading Tango Company, who will take us on a breath-taking journey into the heart of Tango Argentina. www.facebook.com/Tango.Siempre/Sun 8 Aug: Fenella Humphreys Violin and Cara Berridge, playing violin and cello, will thrill the audience with pieces from Bartok, Bach, and Ravel.Mon 9 Aug: The Galliard Ensemble, comprising flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn form one of Britain’s leading chamber groups, known for its virtuosic, entertaining and distinctive performance. Tues 10 Aug: 16-times Best UK Jazz Pianist David Newton and singer Heather Cairncross, with drums and bass will perform some mesmerizing jazz with great technical artistry. www.facebook.com/AltovoiceWed 11 Aug: Robert Plane, an eloquent and impassioned clarinetist, will join the Solem String Quartet to perform the wonderful Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A major as well as the Coleridge-Taylor Clarinet Quintet in F sharp minor. The Solem Quartet has established itself as one of the most innovative and adventurous quartets of its generation, presenting daring feats of virtuosity within thoughtfully curated programmes. www.facebook.com/robertplaneclarinet and www.facebook.com/solemquartet/Thurs 12 Aug: Welsh harpist @Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita, will bring an exciting repertoire of music which draws on the deep harp-based musical traditions of both countries.www.facebook.com/CatrinFinchSeckouKeita/Fri 13 Aug: 12 Voices and 4 Saxophones will come together in an exciting collaboration between Corvus Consort and the Ferio Saxophone Quartet. Their programme will include a variety of classical and baroque pieces which explore the close interaction between the timbres of voices and saxophones. www.facebook.com/corvusconsort and www.facebook.com/feriosax/Sat 14 Aug: Elton John Band, a professional tribute act, will perform an exciting finale to eight nights of a fantastic music festival. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028245982648&ref=sgm

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Heather Cairncross Singer

2 weeks ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Vocal Health and Fitness Workshop For Your Choir | KatieThomasConductor.com

katiethomasconductor.com

Arrange an online interactive Vocal Health and Fitness Workshop for your choir with freelance conductor and BBC Symphony Chorus Vocal Coach KATIE THOMAS

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Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Take 2!

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Heather Cairncross Singer

7 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

8 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

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

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Heather Cairncross Singer

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