Ullapool will host Fèis Rois’ five-day residential traditional music event for young people once again next month, with a tutor team featuring some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians from bands including Mànran, RANT, Treacherous Orchestra and FARA.
Taking place in the October holidays, the Youth Fèis (Gaelic word for festival) will run from Monday 21st – Friday 25th October, and young people from P4 through to S6 can choose to participate in a range of daily music classes including various musical instruments, Gaelic song, step dance and art. There is also a packed programme of evening activities, cèilidhs and concerts. The event is open to everyone from complete beginners through to advanced players and singers.
Tutors this year include Mànran fiddle player, piper and singer, Ewen Henderson; Arran fiddle player, Gillian Frame, who plays with RANT, who played in Ullapool earlier this year; Assynt piano player and BBC Radio Scotland Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist, Rory Matheson, who also plays with FARA; BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winner, Rachel Newton; multi-instrumentalist, Innes Watson; accordionist and piper, Mairearad Green; fiddle players Anne Wood and Gillian Stevenson; musician, singer and artist, Kim Richards; piper Ailis Sutherland; and step-dancer Sophie Stephenson. Charlotte Mackenzie from the Arts in Nature project will lead art workshops throughout the week commented: “We are looking forward to another five-day residential week in Ullapool next month and we are delighted to have a team of fantastic tutors, many of whom are former participants themselves and we hope that this will inspire the next generation of traditional musicians. Kim Richards, Mairearad Green and Rory Matheson are all former Ullapool High School pupils, where we will hold the event.”
“With classes in fiddle, guitar, Gaelic song, art, pipes and chanter, whistle, ukulele, keyboard, accordion, song-writing, group work, and step dance, we hope there is something for everyone – it is a great opportunity to try an instrument for the first time. This year we have a brand new class, Global music, with Anne Wood, which will be a great opportunity for young musicians to learn music from different cultures around the world. Ullapool-based Anne recently toured her show, When Mountains Meet, which featured a live score of Scottish and South Asian music, and we can’t wait to share traditional music from other cultures with our participants.”
Fèis Rois strives to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend Fèis Rois classes and residential events and have made it possible for people to pay for places in instalments, whilst there may also be support for lower income families from the Highland Children’s Trust. Free instrumental hire, where available, is also offered. Please see www.feisrois.org for further information.
Christian added: “The five-day residential Fèis is a great opportunity for young people who are working towards achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award as it is a requirement of that award to participate in a four-night and five-day residential. Also, through our weekly classes programme, we provide opportunities for young people to continue to develop their skills after the Fèis week in Ullapool. Our weekly classes take place in Dingwall, and we have fiddle, accordion, guitar and clarsach classes, for all ages and abilities.”
Bookings can be made on the Fèis Rois website, where all the event information, including daily timetable, tutor list and cost details, can be found; please visit www.feisrois.org.
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