The Bee The Change Intergenerational Choir shared the stage with headline act Callum Beattie at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival last week, marking a memorable milestone for the project and those involved through the High Life Highland Leadership Programme.
A unique moment on the Belladrum stage
The youngest and teenage members of Bee The Change took to the Belladrum stage alongside Callum Beattie. The performance featured children from Auldearn Nursery, Nairn Academy Young Leaders, and pupils from Charleston Academy, who were also part of the choir on the night.
The performance brought together children, teenagers and young leaders from across the community through music, providing an opportunity to share the festival stage with one of Scotland’s best-loved artists.
Transport to and from the festival was provided free of charge by Stagecoach, enabling choir members to take part in the performance.
Reflecting on the journey, Kimberley Whittingham, Early Years Practitioner at Auldearn Nursery and Primary School, said, “When Elizabeth McDonald first approached me about the intergenerational choir, we joked about headlining Belladrum. We laughed at the time, but somehow we made this happen — and now we are stunned!
“Working with the Young Leaders has given the kids so much confidence, and you can see that on stage. We are so proud of them all. My motto is say yes, as you never know where it leads! It might just lead you on a bus with 20 nursery kids, and on stage at Belladrum!”
How the choir got there
The Belladrum performance was the culmination of a journey that began as a partnership between the High Life Highland Leadership Programme and the mental health charity Mikeysline.
The choir brought together toddlers from Auldearn Nursery, teenage Young Leaders from Nairn Academy, and residents of St Olaf Care Home through weekly rehearsals.
Led by local musicians and former Young Leaders, Kenna Ross and Morna Ross, the sessions stimulated memory and lifted spirits among older residents, while helping younger participants develop confidence, empathy and leadership skills.
What began as a small initiative within the care home and school grew steadily, from a Christmas debut on Nairn High Street to a feature on STV News, before culminating in the Belladrum performance, where pupils from Charleston Academy also joined the choir on stage.
What this means for the community
The project has been built on genuine relationships across generations, with Belladrum representing its biggest stage to date. High Life Highland‘s Leadership Programme has been proud to support the initiative alongside Mikeysline, Nairn Academy’s Young Leaders and Charleston Academy.
Following the success of Belladrum, the choir looks forward to continuing its journey and creating further opportunities to bring people together through music.
A clip from the performance can be viewed on High Life Highland’s social media channels.