Daisy's concert is a class act

SHE has performed for the Queen, Sir Paul McCartney and Cherie Blair, but singing sensation Daisy Chute is going back to her roots for her latest performance.

The 20-year-old from Musselburgh, who forms one quarter of modern classical girl group All Angels, will take to the stage at her former school, Loretto, tonight - which is also her 21st birthday.

Daisy will act and perform a selection of opera songs alongside around 60 people from across the world who have just completed a week-long summer singing course - Oxenfoord International - at the school.

Daisy, who is studying for a degree in music at King's College London, said: "The course was a lot of fun. It is run by a famous accompanist and teacher from Edinburgh, Malcolm Martineau.

"I'm playing men in the opera scenes: a little boy called Cherubino in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro; and a king - Bertarido - in Rodelinda by Handel."

The Oxenfoord International opera concert marks the end of the summer course, which has seen participants perform at the school every night since it started last Sunday, featuring classical singing in German, Italian, French and English, among other languages.

Half-American Daisy returned to the family home at Inveresk Village around a fortnight ago, and will travel back to her home in the Angel area of London later this month.

She said: "It was a bit weird being back at Loretto, but because my family lives so nearby, it doesn't feel like it has been that long really since I was last there. I did an acting course there a couple of years ago during the summer.

"Loretto was the first independent school to have Steinway pianos, which are the best you can get, so it's great to go back and have all these wonderful pianos in each room."

Edinburgh-born Daisy is a former Morag Alexander Dance School pupil and previous chorister at Edinburgh's St Mary's Cathedral.

She added: "It's brilliant being back in Edinburgh, I love it. I have been quite busy and I have caught up with a few musician friends of mine.

"Saturday is also my 21st birthday. I'll just be rehearsing during the day and then in the evening after the opera thing, there will be drinks and cake."

All Angels have sold more than half a million copies of their three albums.

The BRIT-nominated band supported Katherine Jenkins on her UK tour last summer, and have performed for the Queen, Sir Paul McCartney and Cherie Blair.

The free Oxenfoord International opera concert, which takes place at Loretto Theatre, will start at 7.45pm.