Ladywood singer Ann fights back after stroke

Oct 6 2010 by Diane Parkes, Birmingham Mail

SHE competed as Billie Holiday in Stars in their Eyes with Matthew Kelly and sang in jazz clubs all over the world.

But in April last year professional singer Ann Arscott’s world turned upside down when, at the age of 47, she suffered a stroke.

The music and drama teacher, who lives with her sister Kim in Ladywood, Birmingham, was left unable to speak from the sudden attack.

But, miraculously, she is still able to sing.

And she recently performed in a concert in the city centre singing her favourite hymn Amazing Grace and Summertime by Billie Holiday.

Experts have told Ann, who taught at Holy Trinity Media Arts College, in Small Heath, that she suffers from aphasia, a condition often linked to a stroke, which causes speech impairment.

Using a letter board to answer questions, Ann finds it difficult to construct an entire sentence and is quickly frustrated by the difficulties in communicating what she wants to say.

But she told the Mail she began singing when she was a youngster and turned professional at 18. I sang jazz and opera all over the world. In Japan and Europe, in theatres, clubs and open air.”

In fact Ann was becoming so well-established she sang alongside Birmingham jazz legend Andy Hamilton at a club in London.

And in January of 2001 she competed in the television talent show Stars in Their Eyes. “I was Billie Holiday,” she recalls.

“It was nice. Everyone was friendly.”

But her stroke brought her singing career came to a sudden halt.

“I was in hospital for nine weeks,” she says.