Young Musicians Prepare For Celebratory Concert

17th March 2009

Eighty Musicians with the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra are busy preparing for their performance in the Empire Theatre of Eden Court which takes place on Saturday 21 March.

The concert, which is part of the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Regional Music Groups in the Highlands, will have an ambitious programme including Arnold's Tam O'Shanter Overture, Fantasia on Greensleeves composed by Vaughan Williams and Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijè Suite.

Over the last two decades thousands of young musicians have trained and performed with the local authority's Regional Music Groups, continuing to provide entertainment and music-making of the highest standards.

Twenty years ago saw the formation of the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra and whilst this group was the mainstay of provision until recently, there are now seven Regional Music Groups run by The Highland Council as an extension to the work of the Instrumental Tuition Service, made up of young musicians from across the whole Highlands. The groups which are all thriving are; Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, Highland Schools Wind Band, Highland Youth Strings Orchestra, Highland Youth Big Band, 'Snas Ceilidh Band, Highland Youth Pipe Band and Còisir G, the newly formed Regional Gaelic Choir.

Currently there are 270 young musicians involved in the Council's music groups and auditions for places are held each year. All the players selected are above a minimum standard and work very hard at the rehearsal weekends throughout the year, culminating in their public performances.

Over the years the success of the groups has extended beyond the Highlands. This has included foreign tours and performances in many parts of the UK. Such is the reputation of these groups that regular invitations are received for performances . In the 2008/09 session the Highland Schools Wind Band has performed in Perth and the Highland Youth Big Band was showcased at a national music education conference in Stirling, entertained guests at a prestigious Highland Hospice event and supported Sandi' Thom's Homecoming tour in The Ironworks, Inverness. Another of the most memorable recent events was the collaboration with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Regional Youth Orchestra which culminated in a world premiere of a new work by the Edinburgh based composer John McLeod.

The Highland Council's Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton said: "The Highland Regional Youth Orchestra have been busy rehearsing and are really looking forward to performing in front of a large live audience. We have planned a fantastic and varied programme for what will be the Orchestra's final concert of the 2008/09 season and the last performance by many of its gifted members as they prepare to leave their school years behind them."

"Our other music groups are busy rehearsing for their own concerts next month, which includes the debut performance by our Gaelic choir, Còisir G in Fortrose. They will be joined at the Black Isle Leisure Centre on 18 April by 'Snas, the Highland Youth Pipe Band and the Highland Youth String Orchestra. The Big Band and the Schools Wind Band will be performing, along with a guest vocalist, at the One Touch Theatre in Eden Court on the 25 April.

Tickets for the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra's appearance in Eden Court on Saturday 21 March cost £8 and £6 and are available by contacting the Eden Court Box Office on 01463 234234.