Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Hitting right notes
Graceful choir on lookout for new singers
A multi- talented Coatbridge singer used to defying the odds is encouraging others to join her on a musical adventure.
Brave Kirsten Smith has been in remission for more than two years after beating a rare form of cancer, and her renewed zest for life – and passion for music – saw her form The Grace Notes troupe back in August 2015.
The dulcet-toned songbirds have never looked back as they’ve thrilled audiences at a series of concerts, including a packed Christmas musical extravaganza held at Kirkshaws social club.
But 25-year-old Kirsten is keen for new members to join up with The Grace Notes and help them make beautiful music together over the course of the year.
Kirsten said: “The choir has been a terrific ride so far and everyone who has joined up since we launched in 2015 has had an absolutely brilliant time.
“There’s nothing like getting up on stage and singing your heart out in front of an appreciative audience.
“We’ve had really good feedback from people and want the choir to keep going from strength to strength.”
Former St Andrew’s High pupil Kirsten knows all about strength as she showed plenty of it during her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and beat the illness with the support of her family and friend Robyn Duffy, who was also diagnosed with the same form of cancer.
She turned her attention to forming her own choir shortly after going into remission as she had a passion for music from a very young age.
Kirsten, who studied music at Edinburgh Napier University, explained: “I used to be in choirs when I was younger but always wanted to start up my own one and choose my own material.
“I love singing anything from the 1950s right up to something that was released last week and enjoy performing with a piano.
“I launched The Grace Notes in August 2015 and we currently have dozens of members.
“There is a mixture of ages, from 17 to over-60, and most of the members are from Airdrie or Coatbridge.
“We came up with the name Grace Notes by putting suggestions together and holding a vote.
“Music is a great tool for people to come along and forget about their troubles for a few hours.”
Even during the dark days of her illness, Kirsten still sampled musical delights thanks to charity The Teenage Cancer Trust – an organisation she has donated funds to in the past.
Kirsten said: “The Teenage Cancer Trust took me away to see Dirty Dancing and Fame and you get the chance to meet and speak with other young people who are sharing a similar experience.
“They don’t just work with teenagers, they work with people right up to the age of 25.
“It’s important that everyone who donates funds to The Teenage Cancer Trust knows that their money is going to be a real help in letting young people with cancer just forget about everything and have fun for a day.”
To find out more about The Grace Notes, and register an interest in joining the choir, contact Kirsten by phone on 07904 237043 or email at Kirstenleesmith@hotmail.com
For further details on The Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org