Visiting GP on the search for singers

Budding singers are being invited to take part in a special ‘pop-up choir’ for charity, led by a visiting doctor to the isles.

Dr Veronica McBurnie is asking folk to come along to rehearsals at 7.30pm on 2nd and 9th August at St Columba’s Church, Lerwick.

The concert will be held at the kirk on 10th August at 8pm with all proceeds from the evening going to charity From Shetland With Love, helping or children orphaned or abandoned because of HIV/AIDS related illness and violence.

Dr McBurnie has organised pop up choir concerts previously, and as a passionate musician was keen to hold an event in Shetland.

“I believe that everyone can sing and singing makes you happy,” she said.

“I have always sung since I was at school in Primary 1.

“I was in the [chorus] of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for years and various other choirs. It’s been all types of singing, not just choral singing; wedding’s, funerals bar mitzvahs, seriously I’ve done them all.

“I once had to sing in Elvish at a Lord of the Rings at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.”

Admittedly she said it was tricky getting her head round the Elvish, though as she enjoys learning other languages “it was fine”.

Music said Dr McBurnie was a way of boosting energy, levels, having fun and a good tonic for wellbeing.

She describes it as her “extra medicine”.

“I’ve run community choirs before and I’ve had people who come along and they are usually quite shy and nervous.

“[But] you just seem them light up..it’s such a privilege to facilitate that. I’ve seen the benefit it brings and I want to keep doing it.

“I’m only here for a month and I thought ‘maybe I will do something’ and I thought ‘of course I’ll do something’.

“Being part of a wall of sound is an amazing thing.”

Veronica plans some breathing work with the singers and get everyone relaxed into singing together.

The repertoire will depend on the numbers, though in the past, Dr McBurnie has dabbled in pop, classical and choral tunes, including a rendition of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now at a 10k race in Bannockburn.

“I will probably chuck some Bob Marley in there. It totally depends on who turns up. We might have a little bit of soul and a wee bit of classical.”

She also hopes to include other musicians on the night too.