Location
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
A range of folk, roots and original music in groups open to all or with a particular health focus
I’m a creative, skilled and warm music facilitator with a range of experience leading community choirs, workshops and songwriting projects. I have particular interest in singing for health and wellbeing and group songwriting. I generally find teaching by ear to be more accessible but have a good knowledge of music notation which I’m happy to use with groups where it’s appropriate.
Current Work
I’m founding musical director of Castle Chorus, Edinburgh’s folk and roots community choir, which is open to all regardless of previous singing experience. We sing a range of music, collaborate with songwriters and create our own songs together. Music in this group is usually taught by ear so singers do not need any knowledge of music notation.
I work with singing for lung health charity The Cheyne Gang leading singing groups across Edinburgh for people living with long term respiratory conditions.
In addition to leading community singing, I’m a performing vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. As well as my solo and band work released under Caro Bridges, I collaborate with violinist Emma Jane Lloyd in duo Caro & Emma, with three woman musical ecosystem Machine Orchid, with handpan virtuoso Milly Hoddo in The Enharmonic Collective, and for Scotland shows with Ewan Macintyre Band.
Past Work
My past work includes musical direction of the Royal Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Staff Choir, co-leading mental health focused Inspire Choir, leading Tartan Ribbon Community Choir for Waverley Care, and leading music making sessions at St Columba’s Hospice. I worked with primary school children in Linlithgow to help them create songs for the new Linlithgow Museum, and with older community members there leading reminiscence song sessions.
Training and Skills
Castle Chorus is Edinburgh’s folk and roots community choir. We’re open to all regardless of previous singing experience, with no auditions and no need to read music notation. We sing a wide range of folk music from throughout the ages and around the world, we collaborate with local songwriters and bands, and we create songs together about things we care about.
Members pay £7 per session or £3 concession with further flexibility available – we don’t want money to be a barrier for anyone. Drop-in attendance is welcome although we ask for some patience in the run-up to performances!
Thursdays 6.30-8.30pm
