Lerwick, 19-21 September 2003

THE WEEKEND saw a unique event in Shetland. The Shetland Youth String Orchestra combined forces with the Edinburgh Academy String Orchestra for some intensive rehearsal and music-making, ending with a concert at the Anderson High School in Lerwick (Sunday).

Shetland’s young people get together to play on a Saturday morning, and classical music is beginning to become an important part of the local fiddle tradition.  Edinburgh Academy, on the other hand, is a school with strong musical traditions, and they were last in Shetland two years ago.

Accompanied by Mysie Ferguson, head of strings, and assisted by Phillip Coad, both from the Academy, four local teachers were also involved: Ferenc Bartai, Alan Gifford, Nigel Hayward and Jack Zerfahs. The event was sponsored by the Shetland Arts Trust.

The concert held some surprises amongst the familiar favourites. Schubert, McGibbon, Shostakovich, Handel and Bach were all featured, as well as Elgar and a piece by Elena Lucas. The programme also included a taste of traditional fiddle playing, in which the Edinburgh Academy players joined forces with a Shetland fiddle group, and playing by the tutors which interwove Bach with old standards like ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ and ‘In The Mood’, as well as an American piece by Carol Nunez.

The weekend was a great success and the Academy won more hearts in Shetland. It showed how disparate schools could get together and make excellent music, and have fun doing it.

© Andy Ross, 2003