Record entries for young fiddler event

Shetland Folk Society Young Fiddler of the Year competition will be held this weekend at the Garrison Theatre with a record number of entries.

There has been a particular increase in entries in the junior sections (for children up to and including primary six).

The competition kicks off with the junior competitors on Friday morning and the intermediate competitors on Friday afternoon.  The Young Fiddler Open competition will be held on Saturday.

This year there is a record 154 entries from 110 fiddlers.  This is a further increase on record entries last year from 102 fiddlers.

The finals concert will be held on Saturday night in the Garrison Theatre. The prize-winning junior and intermediate fiddlers will perform and the open competitors will play for a final time in front of the judges Claire White, Peter Gear and Lois Nicol.

Bryan Gear joins tune competition judges Violet Tulloch and Debbie Scott to play the winning entries from this year’s competition.  There will also be guest appearances from Callum Watt, Young Fiddler of the Year 2013, and Mike Laurenson, Junior Young Musician of the Year.

Organiser Vaila Grant said: “We are delighted to have a new trophy to present this year for the best played reel. We are very grateful to Gussie Angus and Cecil Hughson for donating the Catgut and Ivory Trophy and look forward to presenting it to the player of the best reel over the two days.”

Folk Society member Valerie Watt added: “We are thrilled to see so many entries, particularly in the junior section.  The competition is not just about identifying winners but also about ensuring our musical heritage is preserved.

“With so many young fiddlers playing Shetland tunes for the competition we can be reassured our traditional music is safe in their hands.”