Scottish Fiddle Orchestra to visit isles on 30th anniversary tour

The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra is visiting Shetland for the first time this summer as part of its 30th anniversary tour.

The traditional orchestra, with its Orcadian director of music John Mason, regularly attracts capacity crowds at venues in mainland Scotland, other parts of the UK and overseas.

The tour line-up will feature an orchestra of 60 performers, including pipers and singers. The shows will involve pipe bands, young players or dancers in each location. Details of all the participants will be available shortly.

The orchestra plans to delight the audiences with a lively mix of rhythmic music, interspersed with delicate slow airs, and well-known Scottish songs. The concerts will also feature some of Mr Mason’s numerous original compositions for which the SFO has become renowned.

An additional highlight will be an arrangement of Highland Cathedral, involving the full orchestra with pipes. The singers will be tenor Dennis Haggerty and mezzo soprano Colette Ruddy, and the evening will be hosted by the entertaining and well-known compere Jim McColl of Beechgrove Garden fame.

The orchestra is a registered Scottish charity and it has raised over £1 million for other charities. It has some 120 members, selected by audition, and the members give freely of their time.

The orchestra is managed by its members, on a voluntary basis, and is funded from the proceeds of its events. Sponsorship has been gratefully received from NorthLink Ferries for this summer’s tour.

The Shetland concert is at the Clickimin Centre on Tuesday 20th July. Tickets cost £15 and are available from (01595) 745555.