Maureen Jelks

Scots Song Masterclass

Saturday 20 September, 14:00

St Andrew's Church Hall

Tickets £6.50

Maureen Jelks’ voice has been described by Sheena Wellington as ‘…one of the best kept secrets in of Scotland’s traditional-music scene. Clear and pure as a choirboy’s, it has all the power and passion of a mature woman’.

Brought up largely in Dundee’s old Overgate, Maureen inherited her love of singing from her mother Jane Hillis, yet as she grew older she suffered from shyness and found it difficult to sing in front of people. It was only when she returned to Scotland after fifteen years in England, and having become friends with Christine Stewart, a folk singer in 1960s Dundee, that Maureen rediscovered her voice. More comfortable now with singing unaccompanied and in her own dialect, she was introduced by Christine to such fine singers as the Stewarts of Blair, the well-known Perthshire Traveller family.

Maureen began entering singing competitions, which she won all over Scotland. Today she is in much demand at clubs and festivals, through her love of the songs, her warmth and her great sense of humour.

The recipient of several awards, Maureen has made two solo recordings and has contributed to many compilations including the seminal Scots Women on the Greentrax label. In 1991 she was one of the singers featured in Jean Redpath’s Masterclass for BBC2.

Visit Maureen's homepage here

About the masterclass

For all levels. An exploration of Scots song, focusing on the rich repertoire of Scotland's Travelling People. The relationship between song and social context will investigated and a number of example songs taught.