Shetland fiddlers to visit Inverness

The Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club and Highland Council’s Inverness Traditional Music Project look forward to welcoming “New Traditions” fiddle group to Inverness on the weekend of the 14-16 April 2007.

Highland 2007, Scotland’s year of Highland culture has provided an excellent opportunity for the Highland Accordion & Fiddle Club and the Inverness Traditional Music Project working in partnership with Shetland Arts to apply for funding to invite “New Traditions” Fiddle Group from Shetland to perform in Inverness.

This is a special opportunity to hear the five young fiddlers, Sheena Peterson, Elspeth Rickard, Martha Morton, Ashley Leaper and the brilliant up and coming young fiddler and Banchory & Glenfiddich, winner Gemma Donald, play together outside of Shetland along with tutors, Bernadette Porter and Jim Leask.

In addition to a ceilidh on Saturday 14 April at 7.30pm in the Spectrum Arts Centre & Theatre in Inverness, Shetland Fiddle Style and Scottish Pipe & Strathspey Style workshops will be held in the afternoon (Sat 14 April, 2pm to 4pm).  The participant level of experience required is aimed at improver level and upwards. Music will be provided if necessary. This is being run through the Inverness Traditional Music Classes and advance bookings can be made through Margo Maclennan on 01463 724314 or on-line through the booth www.thebooth.co.uk.

For a second chance to hear The New Traditions Shetland Fiddle Group play they will be guest artiste at The Highland Accordion & Fiddle Club on Monday 16 April in the Waterside Hotel, Ness Bank, Inverness starting time 7.30 – 11pm.  MFR’s Thursday evening All Scottish music programme with The Prof, Ben & Mrs Mac, John (the prof) will be recording the fiddlers on Sunday afternoon.  This will give the listeners another opportunity to listen to great Shetland fiddle style of playing.

Tutor Bernadette was a former violinist and a mature fiddle student of the late Tom Anderson.  On his suggestion Bernadette was the first fiddle tutor to work in Urasmith School at Hillswick and North Maverin.  After a year in post Bernadette was offered the full time post as fiddle tutor covering the area or North Roe and Olaberry.  Moving on from there in 1980 Bernadette and Jim started the first Accordion & Fiddle Club in North Maben

Both tutors were invited to teach at the summer fiddle schools in Norway and Manchester and Fiddle 2003 in Edinburgh and the RSAMD in Glasgow at the invitation of Brian McNeill, Director, where New Traditions were invited to play.  They are also resident tutors at Fiddle Frenzy’s yearly event held during August.  Both tutors teach Adult Education Fiddle Classes in Hillswick and Weisdale and Lerwick.