Young musicians to showcase their talents
Three hundred young musicians from the eight Highland Regional Music Groups are busy with final rehearsals to prepare for a full day of concerts in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness on Sunday 25th March which will see some of the musicians perform with acclaimed Australian pianist Tristan Lee.
The Highland Youth String Orchestra will open the day with an afternoon concert starting at 2pm featuring a varied programme that will allow the young performers to show their musical skills. The second half of this concert will feature the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra who are all looking forward to welcoming Tristan Lee to the stage with them in a performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no.2.
Tristan Lee, who is currently living in England, has been enjoying a busy international career as a pianist and soloist. In his native Australia he has performed recitals for the Melba Festival and the Diamond Youth Series, appeared as concerto soloist with the Zelman Symphony Orchestra and the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, and has been broadcast numerous times on television and radio. His competition successes include being a major prize winner in the Southern Highlands International Piano Competition 2009, first prize and the gold medal winner in the Australian Youth Piano Recital, Dandenong Festival 2008, as well as first prize in Prix Scarbo, Manchester 2009.
The second concert of the showcase event starts at 5pm and will feature performances by the Highland Youth Pipe Band, the Highland Schools Wind Band, and the regional Gaelic choir, Còisir G.
The day of musical performances will draw to a lively close when the Highland Youth Choir, the Highland Youth Big Band and ‘snas, the regional ceilidh band appear in the One Touch Theatre at 7.15pm for the third and final concert.
Throughout the day a percussion group made up of members from a number of the groups will be entertaining people in the Foyer area of Eden Court Theatre and the Friends of Highland Young Musicians will be selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the music groups.
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 the three concerts 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 as always, these talented young musicians will perform at the highest of standards, guaranteeing a day of diverse and exceptional entertainment.”
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.”
For full details and to make a booking please contact Eden Court’s Box office on 01463 234234 or visit the Highland Young Musicians website at www.highland-young-musicians.com