Shetland-Music.com

Talented Shetland singer, Jillian Isbister recently won through a series of rigorous auditions to claim her place in a major Scottish Music show to be screened on US television. The panel of judges included, Phil Cunningham and Fiona Kennedy of Kennedy Productions, makers of the as yet unnamed 'Music Special'.

20-year-old Jillian, who won a coveted Danny award at Celtic Connections in 2005 and has appeared on stage with luminaries such as Eddi Reader, said "I am still in total shock at being picked from so many talented singers and to be a part of such a fantastic production! I am really looking forward to it all although it will be hard work. We've got a CD to record in the next month and the show to prepare for which we're performing as a one off in Glasgow on 13th August. Then there's touring America next year! I've never been abroad before and have always wanted to go to America so you can imagine how excited I am! I'm really looking forward to working with Phil Cunningham again."

Jillian sang her way through auditions in Aberdeen and Glasgow, during which each candidate was asked to sing two songs: one traditional and one contemporary, in order to win a place on the show. Jillian has been singing in public for just over four years, in Shetland and beyond. As well as her gigs with Eddi Reader and at Celtic Connections, Jillian has played at Stonehaven Folk Festival and Aberdeen Wordfringe and has made several recordings including an EP entitled, My Smaa Temple Me.

The show will be filmed in a Scottish Theatre and at stunning locations throughout Scotland. It will include a mixture of both Scottish and mainstream popular songs. The resulting television show, which will feature songs specially composed by Phil Cunningham and Beth Nielsen Chapman will be launched in the United States in December 2008.

Jillian recently featured on a Christmas CD of Shetland artists released by Beacon Music which includes tracks by Shoormal, Eunice Henderson, Shiela Henderson, Jenny Keldie, The Tullochs, Erin Sandison, May, Mackie and Rhonda

The CD was Iain Anderson's Album of the Week on his Radio Scotland show and has sold over 50,000 copies since its release in late 2007.

As she prepares for the most significant development in her musical career to date, Jillian took time out to say, " I am very grateful to the whole Shetland Arts team for their continued support and advice - sincere thanks to you all, especially Davie Gardner and Richard Wemyss for all their help over the years"

Links
Jillian's Bebo page: http://www.bebo.com/jillian-isbister
Kennedy Productions: http://kennedyproductionscompany.com/