Sunday June 15th. 2008

Lochaber Music School

Summer Concert in Roy Bridge Hall

Saturday 21st June at 6.30 p.m.

Admission: Adults £4 (Children free!)

It is fitting that Lochaber Music School should be presenting its Summer Concert at Roy Bridge

during this, its 21st birthday year.

The Music School's association with the Braes of Lochaber has always been very strong. Indeed, it was founded by eminent cellist and teacher Audrey Scott of Insh, who throughout the last twenty one years has introduced so many Lochaber youngsters to the joys of string playing. We are proud that many Music School students from this area have gone on to forge distinguished careers in music, not least violinist Donald Grant and cellist Clare Sargent, both of Brae Roy Road, and more recently, cellist Duncan Strachan of Upper Inverroy. Other ex-pupils, like violinist and viola player Sandy Rogers, again of Brae Roy Road, have followed different career paths but continue to enjoy music-making at the highest level.

Many of our present tutors and pupils have strong connections with the Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge area. Peter Rose (of Upper Inverroy) has been the Musical Director since September 2005, and he leads an experienced and talented staff of 10 tutors on Tuesday evenings at the Camaghael Hostel in Fort William. Brae Lochaber tutors include Deirdre MacDonald (specialising in Traditional side of the youngsters' playing), Hazel Rose (who teaches Musicianship, Clarinet and Piano), Lizzie Rogers (until recently the 'Pied Piper' of our young Sound Start classes), Christopher Josey, now of Achaderry, (who directs the Youth Choir and the Sound Start classes), and Monica Das, of Spean Bridge,

our specialist violin and chamber music tutor. The Brae Roy connections also extend to Alasdair Grant, one of our founder Trustees, Ian Strachan, our long standing Vice-Chairman and Hilary Earnshaw, our administrator, recently of Tulloch.

Whilst our pupils come from all areas of Lochaber -it must be admitted that Brae Roy provides the greatest number of instrumentalists! And all of these talented young players will be performing at Saturday's concert. Music will include songs from the Lochaber Youth Choir, a Music School initiative supported by YMI (Scottish Arts Council) which features children from as far away as Strontian and Ballachulish. Orchestral works will include Handel's Water Music, 'Gabriel's Oboe' (from the film - 'The Mission') and Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Cellos and Strings (featuring Martainn Skeene from Gairlochy and Rufus Huggan from Spean Bridge). There will be violin solos from Rhona MacKintosh (Roy Bridge), Helena Rose (Upper Inverroy) and Callum Tregaskis (Spean Bridge). A special treat will be a double-bass solo from Alasdair Strachan (Upper [nverroy). And our very youngest children, including several stars from Spean Bridge, will be showing what they can do as well - in solos and ensembles.

We expect the concert to finish by approximately

8 p.m. There will be a fund-raising raffle and a home-produce stall. A most enjoyable evening is surely on the cards!

Please come along to the Village Hall this Saturday and support these very special young people. You will be truly amazed by what you hear!