Download hi-res imagesIn HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT centuries-old tradition meets modern music to capture the heart and soul of Scotland in song. Singer/actress Fiona Kennedy, a member of Scotland’s leading theatrical family and well–known in North America as the host of “Tartan TV,” leads a group of singers brought together from a country-wide audition to represent a range of musical styles. Backed by the Scottish Festival Orchestra, singers Jim Malcolm, Jillian Isbister, Maureen McMullan, Daisy Chute and Darren Maclean join Fiona in a concert that spans genres and generations: from traditional Scottish compositions like “Loch Lomond” and “Auld Lang Syne” to pop hits originally sung by Carly Simon, Bette Midler and Simon and Garfunkel that infuse Scottish cultural significance to the familiar lyrics. Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox (“The Bourne Supremacy”) reads the works of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, with stunning footage of Scotland interspersed between songs. The concert was shot in high definition at the historic Theatre Royal in Glasgow in August 2008. HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT premieres nationwide beginning February 28, 2009 on PBS (check local listings).
Produced by Kennedy Productions Company Limited. Presented nationally by WLIW21 in association with WNET.ORG. Underwriters: VisitScotland, Saint Andrews Society of New York, Meredith Portfolio Management, Scottish Heritage Society, Public Television Viewers and PBS.
Highland Heartbeat Preview
Highland Heartbeat “Mouth Music Medley”
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 | CUTLINE: Daisy Chute, from Musselburgh, began her career at the age of nine as “Cosette” in the UK touring production of “Les Misérables” and released her debut CD when she was 15 years old. She is one of the singers featured in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 287K (5.75 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 4 X 5.5 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Hailing from the Isle of Skye, Darren Maclean comes from a family of well-known Gaelic singers, has won several musical competitions for his puirt à beul or ‘mouth music’, which he performs in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. ‘Mouth music’ is a traditional and very difficult Scottish form of lilting performed in Scottish Gaelic, whose closest American equivalent would be scat singing or fast rap. PHOTO: 393K (4.29 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 3 X 5 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Singer/actress Fiona Kennedy, a member of Scotland’s leading theatrical family and well-known in North America as the host of “Tartan TV,” leads a cast of Scottish singers in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 1.4M (12.4 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 5.8 X 8.3 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Scottish singer/actress Fiona Kennedy and Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox, who reads the works of Scottish poet Robert Burns throughout HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 480K (6.18M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 4 X 6 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: (left to right) Singers Jillian Isbister, Darren Maclean, Maureen McMullan, Fiona Kennedy, Jim Malcolm and Daisy Chute star in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 296K (5 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 4.8 X 4 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | LOGO: Download HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT logo. GRAPHIC: 644K (12 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 10.7 X 4.3 |
 | CUTLINE: (standing, left to right) Singers Jim Malcolm, Jillian Isbister, Fiona Kennedy, Darren Maclean, (seated, left to right) Maureen McMullan, and Daisy Chute star in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 3.78M (21.6M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 7.6 X 11 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Jillian Isbister, from the Shetland Islands, began performing at the age of 14 and is a member of Shetland pop/rock band, Loveshack. She is one of the singers featured in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 311K (6.18 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 4 X 6 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Award-winning singer/songwriter Jim Malcolm, from Perthshire, has a successful solo career and has toured with the top international Scottish folk act Old Blind Dogs. He is one of the singers featured in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 340K (4.29 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 3 X 5 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
 | CUTLINE: Maureen McMullan, from Coatbridge, was awarded an International Merit-Based Scholarship to study for a Professional Performance Diploma at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she currently studies. She is one of the singers featured in HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT. PHOTO: 240K (6.18 M uncompressed) at 300 dpi JPEG at 4 X 6 CREDIT: Upfront Photography |
