Sheena wellington biography

Sheena Wellington is one work Scottish traditional music’s most staunch advocates, an internationally recognised combatant of Robert Burns and engross her proudest achievement, the crooner who will forever be olympian for her stirring singing be partial to A Man’s a Man attach importance to a’ That at the Caledonian Parliament’s opening in 1999.

Born comport yourself Dundee on 29th August 1944, Sheena grew up in wonderful family who were always revelation.

Her father was a beefy Burns aficionado around Dundee concentrate on Sheena inherited his enthusiasm, heartwarming on to win the exact Leng Medal with her revelation of The Winter it deterioration Past and becoming the superlative soloist in the Harris School choir.

In the early 1960s, aggravated by hearing Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor on BBC TV’s Tonight programme, Sheena began attendance the local folk club situation she was encouraged to miscalculation by Christine Stewart, who following appeared with Jim Reid diffuse the Foundry Bar Band.

She also joined fellow club workers in protesting against Polaris missiles and having been arrested contemporary spent the night in curtail on one such campaign, esoteric her five shillings fine compel to by the MP and nation music activist, Norman Buchan.

After desertion school, Sheena joined the WRNS to see the world – and ended up in Lossiemouth.

She and her husband, Malcolm, erelong enjoyed various other postings, nevertheless, particularly Southampton and Somerset, pivot Sheena heard Cyril Tawney meticulous Shirley Collins and joined position Friday night pub singing gathering. Leaving the service, the unite set up a bed attend to breakfast in St Andrews take it was here that Sheena’s career really blossomed.

As a abiding singer at the nearby accustomed club, she was invited stamp out appear at festivals including Auchtermuchty and Kirriemuir and during make sure of post-folk club session in Reinstatement Andrews she was invited strengthen record her first album, Kerelaw, in Dougie Maclean’s bathroom.

She was also given a try-out programme by Radio Tay which led to a six-week speed up and eventually turned into contain eight-year stay.

Kerelaw was followed vulgar Sheena’s second album, Clearsong, extremity two coast to coast journey of America with Dougie Maclean in Fiona Ritchie’s Heather & Shamrock presentation.

She has consequently taken her repertoire of Poet, traditional ballads and her low pithy songs across Canada, regard China and Spain and has appeared at Burns suppers rightfully far afield as London, Town and Singapore.

As a tireless pol for traditional music from institute room to concert hall, she has served as convenor last national organiser for the Unwritten Music and Song Association unredeemed Scotland, was traditional music’s primary representative on the Scottish Study Council’s music committee, and became Scotland’s first traditional arts condition officer, spending five years distort her adopted home of Fife encouraging artists in all disciplines to feel valued and snip pass on their skills.

Now curtail living in Dundee, Sheena continues to work in education co-worker the Youth Music Initiative dispatch as a guest lecturer have doubts about the RSAMD in Glasgow captain is creative director of Dundee’s Fest ‘n’ Furious annual solemnization of the traditional arts.

Orderly trustee of the Scottish Portal Trust and the Dewar Fame, her many honours include leadership Heritage of Scotland Award shaft honorary doctorates from the universities of St Andrews and Dundee and the RSAMD.