Cherish your outstanding music festival (David Griffith and Brian Jones)
We wish to convey our thanks to the organisers of the Shetland Schools Music Festival and congratulate all the festival participants.
We were invited to adjudicate the Young Musician of the Year competition and were deeply impressed by the uniformly high level of performance. Performance at this level is only achieved through the hard work and dedication of the pupils, their teachers and their able and sympathetic accompanists.
Before judging the competition we were able to enjoy outstanding performances by primary classroom ensembles. In Shetland today you have a very high standard of musical achievement that enhances the life and culture of the islands.
In these uncertain times of financial belt-tightening, music provision can be a soft target. Please support and cherish this musical diversity, because any erosion in the scale and breadth the service will impact upon the pupils, and the musical life of the islands.
The Shetland Schools Music Festival and competition are a great showcase, celebrating the high standard of both group and solo music making, directly linked to high quality tuition. Please ensure it receives the support and resources it deserves.
David Griffith and Brian Jones
11 Papdale Crescent,
Kirkwall,
Orkney.
Joyce Davies
The stage performances of all da bairns at the Music Festival was as always inspiring and as a result of their own dedication and that of their music teachers and instructors, classroom teachers and family support and encouragement,. those who were able to sit in da audience had a fantastic time. From the youngest primary one singers from Skeld Primary to the older pupils from the upper years of their High School Education. Many many children and young people travelled from around the isles and sat patiently waiting their turn to take centre stage. Davy Gardner’s warm welcome to each one of them was appreciated by the performer and the audience. from early MOnday morning to late on Thursday evening. The Young Musician of the year event at the Town Hall on the Wednesday evening and the grand Gala concert at da Clickimin on the Thursday evening were appreciated by large audiences. Looking down the list of school participating however it was noticable that some of the island school’s were missing. I understand the schools had to self-finance their travel to the festival and for some with limited budgets it must have just been a stretch too far. How sad when peerie bairns practice through long and cold winter months the highlight of the Music Festival has been taken from them while millions gather interest in the bank accounts of the Shetland Charitable Trust.. Performing at such events must surely tick a whole heap of Curriculum for Excellance boxes. I hope over the coming months the difficulties faced by the organisers this year are looked at and some reterospective learning outcomes are achieved by education and council offocials who this year didn’t quite pass the test. Well down to Davy Gardner and to Mr Morris and our two visiting Judges from Orkney. Thank you to the music teachers and instructors who suppoprted bairns, worked long hours , moved furniture and did without much sleep. Bairns and parents alike appreciated it. Sadly, I didn’t see too many councillors and Hayfield Educational Offocials at the events. To the 1000 plus bairns however thank you for your hard work, for coming to perform for us and for doing so with such joy and enthusium. You were amazing and are truly a credit to Shetland! To those that wanted to come and could not, hope to see you all next year.
Joyce Davies
Sandwick.