Highland Schools Music Going From Strength To Strength

26th April 2008

At a showcase event in the Averon Centre in Alness on Saturday evening 26th April young people from across Highland schools showed that they have an immense amount of talent and dedication to creating great music. The years of practice and recent rehearsals all came together as four different groupings went through their programme.

The four groupings on who last night were -
Highland Youth String Orchestra
Highland Schools Wind Band
Highland Youth Big Band
SNAS - a Scottish Ceilidh Band

In addition many of the members of the above groups are members of the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra.

Membership of all of the Highland musical groups is open to any young person attending a Highland school selected after an audition.

The five Regional Instrumental Groups run as an extension to the work of the Instrumental Tuition service in Highland. Membership for all five goups is by audition / invitation after and Audition Day (31 May 2008).

Players of around Grade 4/5 AB Trinity Standard and above in all instrumental disciplines populate most of the groups. Highland Council Instrumental Instructors can advise on suitability for membership and the application procedire.

Regional Groups provide and ideal extension to the many school and area groups which already exist. they are an ideal opportunity for members to make friends amongst many of the 2500 Highland pupils who receive tuition in our schools whilst promoting a high standard of musicianship. Many memebrs of Highland Regional Instrumental Groups are also members of national instrumental & vocal ensembles.

Due to the nature of Highland Geography, the groups meet for intensive rehearsal weekends. There are normally two rehearsal weekends before December each year then a third which involves a performance. This pattern is repeated between January and April. Perfomances are given in a variety of Highland venues and are normally advertised on the Hi-Arts web site.

There is also a history of Regional Groups performing in other areas of Scotland, and abroad.

In June 2006 Highland Regional Youth Orchestra gave concerts of an extremely high standard in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Guest soloist at both of these concerts was Wilma MacDougall, soprano. This tour also included Hightland Youth Big Band who were subsequently invited to attend a Youth Music Festival in Kritainstad, Sweden - a trip which was made in June 2007. March 2007 also saw another 'first' for HRYO, when they preformed with the BBC Symphone Orchestra in Aviemore's McDonald Highland Resert. the prgramme contained the world premiere of a specially commissioned piece for double orchestra - John Macleod's "Fling".

All Regional Groups are grateful for the continued support of the Friends of Highland Younfg Musicians. This group of supportive parents provide practical assistance at concerts when required and continue to seek much needed resources of finance for the replacement of instruments, equipment and the subsidy fo a number of the groups' activities.

More details of any of the groups can be obtained from Norman Bolton, Music Development Officer on 01349 863441

Further information about Highland Council music tuition can be found at -
http://www.highland.gov.uk/learninghere/schools/musictuition/

Photo By Bill Fernie
Highland Schools Wind Band at Averon Centre Alness on Satruday 26 April 2008
More Photos at -
http://www.caithness.org/fpb/2008/april/gallery.php?gallery=14&start=0