Preview of ‘A Chorus for Emma’
Preview of A Concert for Emma - Greyfriars Kirk - 27th April 2025 – 4.30pm
Emma Kerr (1987-2021) was a splendid mezzo-soprano, educated at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, like me, who studied at the Guildhall School of Music, and became a Scottish Opera Emerging Artist. Soon she was singing with Scottish Opera, English National Opera, Garsington Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival, where she was a Jerwood Artist.
Tragically, Emma died in 2021, aged only 34, and since her death, friends and colleagues have worked tirelessly to find a way to celebrate her life in a way that can also help others.
Consequently, a scholarship has been set up, the Emma Kerr Classical Singing Award, which will be available to singing students at the Oxenfoord Summer School, in particular to Scottish mezzo-sopranos. The Summer School, which operates this year from 3-9 August in the Laidlaw Music Centre of St Andrews University, has come a long way since its beginnings in 1981, the brainchild of my first singing teacher, Joan Busby.
Frazer Scott and Katie Grosset (Goldsmith) have been running a project for two years to raise funds for this Singing Award and have already amassed a considerable amount of money to set up the scholarship.
They are putting on a concert in Greyfriars Kirk as a final fundraiser on Sunday 27th April at 4.30pm.
A Chorus for Emma will feature 12 professional singers, all of whom knew Emma, and will be joined by the Chamber Choir from George Watson’s College, and promises to be an uplifting and emotional occasion. All proceeds will go to the Award Fund, and tickets are available at the door, or in advance at www.achorusforemma.co.uk priced £16.50, with concessions at £14.50 and £10 for students and under 18s. Further information can be found on the above website and on Instagram - @achorusforemma
I didn’t know Emma myself, but have been hugely impressed by the dedication of all involved to create a lasting memorial to her. Please come along to Greyfriars on the 27th to support this very worthwhile project
Brian is an Edinburgh-based opera singer, who has enjoyed a long and successful international career.
