Fiddle frenzy tutors to include Reid sisters

The tutors at the Fiddle Frenzy event in August will include sisters Jenna and Bethany Reid, alongside Angela Fraser, Pauleen Wiseman, Lois Nicol, Cathy Geldard, Helen Whitham and Ross Couper.

This year’s guitar tutor is John Hutchison. Jenny Bradley will be teaching knitting and Amy Fisher will once again be tutoring eager students in drawing and painting.

Fiddle Frenzy is a celebration of the music and the musicians that have made Shetland one of the world’s most highly acclaimed fiddle-playing regions. Each year students come from around the world to experience the marathon seven day and night event.

Fiddle Frenzy offers the musicians the opportunity to learn and immerse themselves in Shetland-style fiddle music with some of our best tutors and musicians. There are courses suited to beginners, through to more experienced players, as well as tutoring in other skills such as guitar-playing, knitting, drawing and painting.

Shetland Arts marketing officer Lisa Ward said: “Fiddle Frenzy is an event unlike your average fiddle school. Not only do we deliver exceptional fiddle and guitar tutoring from local musicians, we also offer our students the best in a truly unique Shetland cultural experience.

“We pride ourselves in offering the flexibility of tailor made workshop packages so students can fully immerse themselves in all strands of a traditional Shetland experience, above and beyond their expectations.”

Fiddle Frenzy will run from Sunday 5th to Sunday 12th August. Registering requires a non-refundable deposit of £25 (£12.50 for under-18s only). People can book for the full week or for part of the week – prices depend on the number of days or workshops (minimum charge £25/£12.50). Bookings can be made now online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org or by calling (01595) 745555.

The cost for the week is £400 (£200 for under-18s). This covers the cost of workshops, trips and concerts, transport around the isles and some meals, but does not include accommodation or travel to Shetland. Prices for individual days/part weeks are available on application.

People can check at www.shetlandarts.org/fiddle-frenzy regularly for confirmation of acts, workshops, storytelling and trips as well as the full programme.