Masterclasses at weekend Fèisean
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CROMARTY Old Brewery is hosting a Fèis Rois Weekend Fèisean over the weekend of Friday 17th to Sunday 19th June.
These intensive weekends offer young people from secondary school year three to the age of 25 the opportunity to participate in 10 hours of master-class level tuition with some of Scotland’s most prolific traditional musicians as tutors.
This Black Isle event involves Matheu Watson (guitar, fiddle), Jarlath Henderson (whistles, small pipes) and Alana Henderson (song, cello) and includes workshops for guitar, whistles, traditional song, song arranging and tune writing and composition.
As a bonus there will be a concert at the Old Brewery on Saturday night, with a limited number of public tickets available.
Matheu Watson is one of the finest young musicians in Scotland, recognised by a nomination for Best Up and Coming Artist at the 2009 Scots Trad awards.
He has just released his debut album, recorded during the wintry February of 2010 in the Community Hall on the island of Berneray in the Western Isles.
"I have known both Jarlath and Alana for some years now and played with them off and on," Watson said.
"Alana was in the same year as myself for the Radio2 Young Folk Award and I remember her singing very well. She reduced the room to silence and has the most beautiful traditional Irish singing style.
"Jarlath won the same award in 2003 and is one of the finest young pipers around nowadays and not many folks will know that he is also a great singer."
Jarlath Henderson is a three times ‘All-Ireland Champion’ uillean piper, and the first and only Irish person to win the BBC Young Folk Musician of the Year Award.
"We really hope that singers and players of all instruments will join us for the weekend," he said.
"We are keen to work on an instrumental and song piece in the group work class and want to make it something that is really brilliant!"
Participants will have the chance to support the trio when they take to the stage at the Old Brewery on the Saturday night.
Fiona Dalgetty from Fèis Rois is delighted to have the trio for the weekend.
"Matheu has had a long association with Fèis Rois and it’s a great opportunity for us to offer our more advanced players the opportunity to work alongside both our own and Irish musicians," she continued.
"The group work piece promises to be a real crossover of both the Irish and Highland traditions and we are keen to encourage all our young singers to come along and get involved in what will be a great finale to the weekend!"
Matheu Watson, Jarlath Henderson and Alana Henderson play the Cromarty Old Brewery on Saturday 18th June at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £8 and £5, are available by calling 01381 600277.
Places for the Weekend Fèisean can be booked in advance at: www.feisrois.org
