Young talent from National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton heads out for poignant tour
A QUARTER of a century on from the very first intake of talented young musicians, students at the country’s only traditional music school are going on the road to share their music with people across Scotland.
In May 2000, the doors of The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton were opened and nine young musicians started their musical education under the expert tutelage of an array of Scotland’s traditional musicians.
Now, 25 years later, six 6th year students from Plockton’s Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd / The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music are about to head out on tour for one last time as students of the renowned centre.
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The talented young musicians will be performing six gigs before taking to the stage with the whole centre, plus former students, for a special evening to celebrate 25 years at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on June 19.
Going on tour later this month are Izzy Sommerville (Inverness), Caragh Gillot (Golspie), Niamh Mercer (Tain), Ruairidh Biss (Achmore), Ruaridh Cameron (Dingwall) and Giacomo Cecchini-Fraser (Portree).
The tour dates and venues are as follows:
Friday, March 28 - Nice Cafe and Bookshop, Kyleakin Connections
Saturday, March 29 - Croy Village Hall
Sunday, March 30 - Strathearn Arts, Crieff
Monday, March 31 - National Piping Centre, Glasgow
Wednesday, April 2 - The Tolbooth, Stirling
Thursday, April 3 - Applecross Hall
Students at the centre receive an in-depth experience in traditional music, and receive world-class tuition by top traditional musicians such as fiddler Gordon Gunn; Gaelic singers Deirdre Graham and Rachel Walker; singer-songwriter Siobhan Miller; multi-instrumentalist and composer Hamish Napier; fiddle player and guitarist, Innes Watson; harpist and pianist Ingrid Henderson; pianist Mhairi Hall; composer/producer Mike Vass, who is also the centre manager, and many others.
Former students include some of the country’s most well-respected traditional musicians, who have gone on to have incredibly successful careers following their time in Plockton, including singer Kim Carnie, Conal McDonagh and Ewan Robertson of award-winning folk band Breabach and Catriona Hawksworth of HEISK. They will be joining the current students at Eden Court for an evening of exciting collaborative performances.
Mike Vass said: “Students at The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music have come from all over Scotland to date; pupils from 20 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have attended the centre over the 25-year history.
“The young musicians who have come through the doors since 2000 have gained invaluable experience and musical education, preparing them for variety of musical careers, whether that is performing, teaching, or working in sound, lighting or event management.
“The 6th year students have planned this tour, with guidance from our tutor team, and are learning what it takes to have a successful career within the music industry. The annual tour is always a popular item in the music school calendar as it allows our senior students the opportunity not just to go out and play music in different venues, but also to prepare, plan and book everything required to allow the tour to run smoothly. It gives them a taste of life as a full-time or part-time musician.”
The 25th anniversary stramash takes place on June 19 at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness and tickets are available for purchase online. For more information about the spring tour and about the Centre, please visit www.plocktonmusicschool.com.
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