©wireimages

May 25th 2005
Classical Brit Awards 2005
Royal Albert Hall. London.

KATHERINE’S A WINNER AT 2005 CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS

Katherine Jenkins the Welsh soprano, collected the NS&I Album of the Year award at the Classical BRIT Awards 2005, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday evening.

The Album of the Year award – and the entire event – are sponsored by National Savings and Investments.

The Outstanding Contribution to Music award was given to Sir James Galway, and other winners at the awards were:

Female Artist of the Year
Winner – Marin Alsop

Male Artist of the Year
Winner – Bryn Terfel

NS&I Album of the Year
Winner – Katherine Jenkins: Second Nature

Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year
Winner – The Sixteen/Harry Christophers: Renaissance

Contemporary Music Award
Winner – John Adams: On the Transmigration of Soul & Road Movies

Soundtrack Composer Award
Winner – John Williams: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban & The Terminal

Young British Classical Performer
Winner – Natalie Clein: Brahms: Cello Sonatas nos 1 & 2 and Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata

Critics’ Award
Winner - Stephen Hough/Dallas SO/Andrew Litton: Rachmaninov/Piano Concertos

Outstanding Contribution to Music
Sir James Galway

                       
Keedie poses in the Press Room at The Royal Albert Hall
photos © wireimages

June 25th 2005

Following story courtesy of Torquay Herald Express

KEEDIE PUTS HER SCHOOL ROOTS FIRST

Singing sensation Keedie Babb had no problem when she had to choose between a date in Rome with superstars Blue or children at her former Paignton primary school.

The school won hands down.

The 22-year-old was invited by the boy band to sing with them at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

But instead she chose to officially open new buildings at White Rock Primary, where she went to school.

In spite of a hectic schedule Keedie took time out to officially open the new buildings, entertain the children and staff, and help plant a time capsule at the school which included yesterday's early edition of the Herald Express.

She took to the Assembly Hall stage and sang O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini and Time To Say Goodbye.

During her visit Keedie told of the hectic diary she has ahead.

She has two weeks to learn a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice which they then want her to perform at Andrew Lloyds Weber's house.

"I can't believe this is happening. My life is like a roller coaster at the minute. He and Tim Rice have not worked together for 30 years and now I feel so lucky that they have joined together, written a song for me and want me to perform it in front of a special audience. I feel very privileged because Andrew will be accompanying me on the piano.

"The next date in my diary is at Anthea Turner's house to sing. I recently sang at the christening of Duncan James' daughter. That was lovely. I will also be performing at the Henley Festival soon.

"I have found myself in LA quite a lot. It's strange because I used to think what bingo hall will I sing at tonight and now it's what country will I be in." However, Keedie says she needs to get back to her London studios to practice singing in French, Italian and Portuguese.

The singer will release a single in the next couple of months called Would I Know which was written by Diane Warren.

"Diane is a world famous songwriter. The song is very much a pop ballad. She has also written songs for LeAnn Rimes, Celine Dione and Barbra Streisand. It's a lovely song." Keedie said it was a delight to be at White Rock. She praised the school for the way it has progressed.

"I had my first school dinner today in 12 years. It was lovely and so healthy. It's a privilege to be here and I have seen a few faces from the past. This is a brilliant school. I used to play football, be part of the drama group, I used to sing here as well. It's brilliant."

Headteacher Nigel Furness said it was a joy to have Keedie back. "I am so happy she gave up playing with Blue to come here. She was always the type of girl who never forgot her roots. She was a joy when she was a little girl and she is a joy today.

"She put on a wonderful performance today and the children loved her. She refused to photocopy her autograph so signed her autographs for everyone."

Keedie said: "I want to thank everyone for all of their support. I love coming back here to see my family and friends. Their support means everything to me."

June 25th 2005

Following story courtesy of Torquay Herald Express

TRUE STAR QUALITY

The people who say there is a dearth of genuinely good role models for young people may have a point.

Some top flight footballers drip with money, spit profusely and spout foul language on the pitch to such a degree they're a turn off for many and a bad example to most. The music industry isn't awash with much better either. But there are diamonds to be found if you look hard enough, even in the football and pop world, and one such jewel shines in the form of Keedie Babb.

It's not everybody in the entertainment industry, never mind one of its most high-profile young stars, who, given a choice between a date in Rome on stage with superstars Blue or opening new buildings at her old school in Paignton, would plump for the latter. But that's what Keedie did yesterday to the delight of children and staff.

It shows youngsters you can dream and make it to the top and still not forget your roots which helped lay some of the foundation stones for success.

Keedie has a glittering future and deserves all the good things that seem sure to come her way because, as White Rock head teacher Nigel Furness put it, "she was a joy when she was a little girl and she is a joy today". And the pupils she entertained so wonderfully yesterday will remember her for a long time.

Story courtesy Torbay Herald Express

June 2005
"Wooden Spoon"
Rugby's Charity Supporting Disadvantaged Children and Young People.

- Summer Dance and Barbecue       

A concert featuring an emerging West End singer, Keedie, was held for the joint benefit for Chilterns Wooden Spoon and the Montgomery Holloway Trust.  Keedie was accompanied by Laurie Holloway and his trio of performers, as well as the East Berkshire Youth Jazz Band. Barrie Mair, met the young singer while she was performing for the Bishop Simeon Trust in London. When asked if she would perform for Wooden Spoon, the singer, who recently hit number 2 in the music charts with a duet with Duncan James of Blue, readily agreed. 

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a bouquet to Keedie from young James Zatka-Haas. James is a 13 year old living with cerebral palsy who learned to walk through Conductive Education Therapy, a technique that has helped over 30 children from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire at the Priory School in Burnham.

This school was helped by Spoon with a £13,000 donation for teaching facility development. The £1000 raised for Spoon at the concert will be pledged towards Chilterns Spoons' current project, a £53,000 sensory garden for children with multiple and severe learning difficulties at Bishopwood School in Sonning Common.

©www.ukathletics.net

{ Page Index }

{ Page 17  >> }