Singer to return for Gaelscoil concert
July 1, 2013
Derry singer and vocal coach Aindree Reece Sheerin will return to the city to perform in a concert to raise funds for Gaelscoil na Daróige.
Mr Sheerin left Derry in the 1980s and was an opera singer for a number of years before a motorcycle accident dramatically altered his life.
The Derry native, who is now a wheelchair user, was determined to remain in music and retaught himself to sing and is now a successful vocal coach and performer. He now performs across the world with his musical partner, Kim Spaargaren, as well as helping others with their singing.
Mr Sheerin said music has always been a major factor in his life.
“I used to be an opera singer but I had a motorcycle accident 17 years ago which left me in a wheelchair. Music was my first love and my mother used to say I could sing before I could talk so I wanted to keep singing but it meant learning to sing all over again.
“Sitting down creates breathing difficulties for singing in terms of the position of the diaphragm so that was something I had to work on,” he said.
He is now part of a musical duo called ‘Too Kool Katz’ and regularly performs across the world. “We perform jazz, blues and swing era songs with a smattering of favourite numbers from Musicals such as Blood
Brothers, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables thrown in for good measure so there will be something for everyone,” he said.
The singer said his experiences made him want to help others with his music. “As well as performing I do music therapy for people with Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s therapy is purely memory based and no matter where I am in the world or what language is spoken we can always find a song people will know. The Parkinson’s therapy owes more to my operatic training around breathing,” he explained.
Mr Sheerin said he is looking forward to coming back to Derry.
“I’m coming home to sing at a family wedding and it is a great privilege to be asked to do this concert ,” he said.
The concert will take place in Pitchers on August 21 and tickets are now available from Gaelscoil na Daróige and Pitchers.
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