▁Al me ida ▁began ▁her ▁musical ▁life ▁playing ▁viol in ▁in ▁the ▁Scottish ▁Youth ▁Orchestra ▁and ▁back ed ▁Ev ely n ▁Gl enn ie ▁with ▁the ▁Orchestra . ▁She ▁sang ▁from ▁a ▁very ▁young ▁age ▁when ▁she ▁performed ▁the ▁Latin ▁mass ▁through ▁the ▁church ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁local ▁children ' s ▁talent ▁shows ▁playing ▁her ▁viol in ▁and ▁singing . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 9 ▁she ▁moved ▁to ▁Chicago ▁with ▁her ▁family ▁and ▁attended ▁school ▁and ▁or chestra ▁there . ▁At ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 1 , ▁K irst y ▁and ▁her ▁family ▁moved ▁to ▁Gib ral tar ▁where ▁she ▁joined ▁the ▁Gib ral tar ▁Orchestra ▁and ▁also ▁began ▁singing ▁on ▁bigger ▁stages . ▁ ▁When ▁she ▁was ▁ 1 7 , ▁she ▁moved ▁to ▁the ▁UK ▁to ▁study ▁A - Level s ▁at ▁at   A sh bourne ▁College ▁in ▁K ens ington   in ▁a ▁year ▁then ▁continued ▁on ▁to ▁study ▁Art ▁& ▁Design ▁Foundation ▁at ▁M idd les ex ▁University . ▁She ▁says : ▁‘ When ▁I ▁first ▁came ▁to ▁the ▁UK , ▁I ▁came ▁on ▁my ▁own ▁and ▁when ▁I ▁look ▁at ▁ 1 7 - year - olds ▁now ▁I ▁think ▁“ wh aa at !” ▁I ▁went ▁to ▁London ▁and ▁I ▁started ▁studying ▁and ▁began ▁working ▁and ▁just ▁got ▁really ▁excited ▁by ▁it ▁because ▁I ’ d ▁never ▁been ▁to ▁England ▁before , ▁so ▁it ▁was ▁a ▁really ▁thr illing ▁time ▁for ▁me .’ ▁ ▁She ▁then ▁moved ▁to ▁York shire ▁to