Young musicians busy tuning up for showcase concerts
300 young musicians from the eight Highland Regional Music Groups are busy rehearsing for a special showcase event featuring both afternoon and evening concerts in Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Sunday 20 March.
The Highland Schools Wind Band will open the afternoon concert at 2.30pm with a varied programme that will allow the young performers to show their musical skills. Next will be a rousing foot-tapping performance by the Highland Youth Pipe Band. It will then be the turn of Ceilidh band, `Snas, who have recently been invited to attend the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in July as the only Scottish representatives at this International Celtic Day. Then it will be the turn of the Highland Youth Choir to bring the afternoon concert to a close.
The evening concert, which starts at 7pm, will feature performances by the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, the Highland Youth Big Band, the Highland Youth String Orchestra and the regional Gaelic choir, Coisir G.
During the intervals Nairn Academy Steel Band will be entertaining people in the Foyer area and the Friends of Highland Young Musicians will be selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the music groups.
The person with the task of co-ordinating all the groups for the event is The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer Norman Bolton. He said: “As we now have eight Regional Music Groups we have had to split the day into an afternoon and an evening concert to give all the young musicians a chance to perform. They and their tutors have all been working really hard and are looking forward to entertaining the audiences. For some of our seniors this will be their last opportunity to perform with their groups, and without wishing to give too much away, the audiences can expect a very entertaining programme with a few surprises.”
The Regional Music Groups are run by The Highland Council as an extension to the work of the Instrumental Tuition Service. Membership for all the groups is by audition or invitation after an annual Audition Day and members are drawn from all areas of Highland.
Chairman of The Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie said: “I have had the privilege of listening to all the groups perform and their standard is really outstanding. The programmes promise high quality performances with something to suit everyone’s musical tastes. I wish all the musicians every success and I encourage as many people as possible to take this opportunity to come and support them.”
Tickets for either the afternoon or the evening concerts cost £8 for adults and £6 for under 18s. A ticket for both concerts is also available for £12 and £9. For full details and to make a booking please contact Eden Court’s Box office on 01463 234234.