Young Ross-shire and Inverness musicians shine

Young musicians from four Highland music groups entertained family, friends and guests during a concert at Fortrose Academy last week.

First to perform was the Ross-shire Schools Concert Band under the guidance of conductors Anna Aalders and Wendy Ritchie.  Their repertoire included music from the hit films Slum Dog Millionaire and Mamma Mia as well as Highland Cathedral, Gabriel’s Oboe and a foot-tapping rendition of Rock Around the Clock.

Next Inverness Junior Strings, conducted by Rona Mackay, took the audience on a whistle-stop trip around the globe performing an Olga Square Dance, a Spanish dance, a Dutch dance which involved some audience participation and ending with a dance from Ireland.

The Ross-shire Schools String Orchestra conducted by Rachel Farmer expertly played six musical pieces.  Viola soloists Eilidh Welsh and Ian Ross featured in two - The Entertainer and Viola Hero.  It was the turn of violin soloists Eilidh MacFarlane and Susannah Mack to take centre stage for Duellin’ Fiddles after a very lively rousing performance of In The Hall of the Mountain King.

Under the baton of conductor Rick Lusher the Inverness Senior String Orchestra performed the moving piece Viva La Viva before wowing the audience with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

The evening ended with all the musicians from the four groups joining together to perform Eye of the Tiger, a fitting anthem to great evening.