Highland Heartbeat’s story began in 2007, when Fiona and Morven Kennedy decided that some of Scotland’s incredibly talented young Scottish performers should be given the opportunity to perform on the world stage.

Entertainment and the music industry is in Fiona and Morven’s blood, being the daughters of the late popular Scottish entertainers Calum and Anne Kennedy. Calum and Anne, from the islands of Skye and Lewis respectivley, met through music, singing in concerts and ceilidhs and were both highly acclaimed Mod Gold Medal Winners in the 1950’s. Calum went on to win the coveted World Ballad Championships in Moscow beating more than 500 competitors and was presented with this award by President Kruschov. They married and had five daughters – Fiona, Kirsteen, Morag, Morven and Deirdre – all of whom inherited their parents’ voices and sang together like the Von Trapp family! They won many awards for their television programmes and toured extensively. Of their five daughters, Fiona is the only one still actively singing and performing and has consistently worked both in Scotland and around the world, having done everything from television presenting to singing in front of Presidents.

Today, three of the close knit sisters are busy doing their own things, but Fiona (the creative force) and Morven (a successful business woman) work together running Kennedy Productions.

In the summer of 2008 hundreds of talented singers auditioned to take part in the exciting Highland Heartbeat project. Fiona Kennedy and Phil Cunningham formed part of the judging panel and were delighted at the incredibly high standards and the enthusiasm shown by everyone. They discovered outstanding singers who feature prominently in the television show, providing a tremendous platform for these young musical ambassadors.

All this culminated in a spectacular show at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, with a fantastic cast of singers, musicians, choir, pipers and dancers and all captured on film for international audiences.

Highland Heartbeat was also shot at stunning locations around Scotland, including Eilean Donan Castle in the western highlands, aerial shots of Edinburgh and breathtaking highland and Ayrshire scenery. It is narrated by the highly respected stage actor and film star Brian Cox.