Young musicians prepare to entertain
Hundreds of young musicians across the Highlands are busy rehearsing for public performances over the next two months that will showcase their talents and entertain thousands of people.
The Highland Council’s instrumental instructors have been preparing pupils to perform and take part in over 86 separate events between now and the end of July.
Today and tomorrow the Caithness Schools Wind Band starts a schools tour around primary schools while in Portree 3 days of performances and competitions for strings and pipes involving primary and secondary pupils from all Skye schools starts on Thursday. The Lochaber Schools Pipe Band will perform at the Fort William summer fayre on Thursday and on Friday in Minginish Hall, Carbost and Struan pupils will entertain guests during a Senior Citizens lunch.
The weekend is just as busy with the Ullapool and District Junior Pipe Band giving a concert in Lairg, the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band perform at the Charleston Community Gala, young pipers and chanters from Dornoch and Rosehall primaries take part in the Thurso Mod and Gizzen Briggs, the traditional music group at Tain Royal Academy will play at a Rotary Club event in the Mansfield Hotel, Tain.
Highlights over the next few weeks include outdoor evening performances by youth pipe bands in Highland communities, young competitors in the Caithness music festival to be held in Wick, music during school prize giving ceremonies, public performances at local fetes, galas and events, including the Tain Vintage Car Rally, primary and secondary musicians taking part in the Inverness Mod and a commonwealth cultural exchange to Vancouver for the Kinlochbervie High School pipers.
The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer Norman Bolton said: “The young folk and their tutors are very busy and are all working hard as they have a lot of events coming up and this is a great chance for them to entertain people and show their skills and talents. Performing in public is a great way to boost confidence of the young musicians and gives them a great experience.”
Chairman of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, Councillor Alasdair Christie wishes all the young performers well. He said: “Our staff do a great job working throughout the year to develop and nurture musical talent so I hope as many people as possible get the chance to come and enjoy hearing the young talented musicians.”
ENDS