Join internationally-renowned mezzo soprano Andrea Baker for excerpts of Andrea’s award-winning show Sing Sistah Sing, a joyful, soulful celebration of the African American female voice. In this the one-off chance to catch a mini performance from Andrea will sing and share stories, with a link to Scottish, Black and LGBT history. Followed by a Q&A and an optional opportunity for audience members to share their stories and explore the idea of telling their own original story through music and spoken word. Andrea Baker is one of the artists featured in OMOS - an exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy of a new moving image work that pays homage to untold Scottish Black History, and celebrates Black excellence and performance in Scotland.

Andrea Baker​​

Hailed as a "stupendous and heartrending" talent (Bild Zeitung), American-Scottish mezzo soprano Andrea Baker is internationally renowned for her "enchantingly powerful" performances (Das Orchester). An operatic trailblazer, she was the first African American to take the role of Carmen in Australia, at Sydney Opera House, and the first to perform the roles of Fricke, Erda, and Waltraute in Wagner's Ring in China. In addition to her celebrated work on the opera stage, she has taken on an extraordinary breadth of voices across various media. Her one-woman show Sing Sistah Sing! is a joyous, soulful celebration of the African American female voice, encompassing jazz, gospel, blues, lieder, and storytelling. Self-written and self-produced, this groundbreaking show has toured to sold out audiences around the world, most recently at the 2020 Edinburgh International Festival. As a radio presenter and documentary maker she can be heard across the BBC, including on Radio Scotland, Radio 4, and Radio 3's Sounds Connected, and has produced her own series of podcasts. Andrea is "honoured and excited" to take on the role of ambassador for 'Scotland’s Street Orchestra,' The Nevis Ensemble.

OMOS is funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is also funded by City of Edinburgh Council, People’s Postcode Trust and Historic Environment Scotland. This event is also supported by Goethe-Institut Glasgow. Partners include Historic Environment Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, Dunoon Burgh Hall, Royal Scottish Academy, Cultural Heritage and Arts Assembly Argyll & Isles (CHARTS), Argyll & Bute Council, the Fruitmarket, Scene Stirling and Transmission. The workshops in Edinburgh and storytelling cabaret have been supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.