Fèisean participants to open Celtic Connections 2019

Tha òigridh nam Fèisean am measg còrr is 100 neach òga a bhios a’ nochdadh air an àrd-urlar a-nochd mar phàirt de chuirm fosglaidh Celtic Connections 2019, ‘Syne of the Times’, còmhla ri cuid dha na luchd-ciùil traidiseanta is seinneadairean Gàidhlig is ainmeil a th’ againn.

Participants from across the Fèis movement are among over 100 young people who will appear on stage tonight as part of the opening concert of Celtic Connections 2019 ‘Syne of the Times’, appearing alongside some of the finest traditional musicians, composers and Gaelic singers we have.

Forty participants from across the Fèis movement will have the opportunity to perform pieces from ‘The Seer’, a Fèis Rois commission by Lauren MacColl, ‘Harvest’ by Donald Shaw – a commission that was first performed as the opening concert of Celtic Connections in 2004 – and also music and song alongside leading traditional outfit Dàimh and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to perform alongside Orcadian youth music group ‘Hadhirgaan’ and SonDeSeu, a Galician folk orchestra.

Fèis participant James Kirkpatrick said “It’s a great opportunity to perform at a venue like the Royal Concert Hall, playing some absolutely fantastic music alongside some of the best musicians and composers in folk music today.”

Lauren MacColl added: “Tonight’s concert is hugely exciting for me, having been part of ‘Harvest’ 15 years ago.  That concert was massively inspiring as an eighteen-year-old budding fiddler, surrounded by heroes and my favourite musicians all on one stage. Donald’s music has a great energy, a joyous sound that inspires and energises, and it is great to see this current generation experiencing that same feeling, 15 years on. It’s an honour to share ‘The Seer’ with these great young players and singers”.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal Development Manager Calum Alex Macmillan said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Fèisean participants to be part of the internationally renowned Celtic Connection festival, and in particular as part of the opening concert. Events like this give young people such great confidence and are a great source of inspiration to them, as we saw with Ceòl nam Fèis and Òran Mòr last year, and aid them greatly in their development as young musicians. Tonight’s concert starts at 730pm at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. In the forthcoming weeks, there will be an opportunity to see performances and participant interviews from the event on BBC Alba.

Gheibh ceathrad com-pàiritiche bho air feadh nam Fèisean an cothrom a bhith a’ cluich ceòl bho The Seer, coimisean Fèis Rois air a dhèanamh le Lauren MacColl, Harvest le Dòmhnall Seadha, coimisean a chaidh a dhèanamh an toiseach ann an 2004 aig Celtic Connections, agus puirt is òrain còmhla ri Dàimh agus Julie Fowlis. A thuilleadh air seo, bidh cothrom aca set no dhà a chluiche le Hadhirgaan, buidheann òigridh à Arcaibh agus le SonDeSeu, orcastra à Galicia.

Thuirt com-pàitiche òga Fèis Fhoirt Seumas Kirkpatrick, “‘S e cothrom sònraichte a th’ ann a bhith nochdadh ann an àite mar Talla Rìoghail Ghlaschu, a’ cluich ceòl mìorbhaileach còmhla ri cuid dhan luchd-ciùil is sgrìobhadairean as fheàrr a th’ againn ann an ceòl traidiseanta an latha an-diugh”.

Thuirt an neach-ciùil Lauren NicColla: “Tha consart na h-oidhche a-nochd air leth cudromach dhomh fhìn, leis gu robh mi an sàs le Harvest bho chionn còig bliadhna deug. Bha an consart sin na thogail mhòr dhòmhsa mar neach-ciùil òga, ‘s mi air mo chuairteachadh le gaisgich agus an luchd-ciùil a b’ fheàrr a bh’ ann aig an àm. Tha ceòl Dhòmhnaill Seadha làn spionnadh, le fuaim ceòlmhor a tha a’ toirt misneachd do dhaoine, ‘s tha e air leth math a bhith faicinn gu bheil òigridh faighinn an aon chothrom ‘s a fhuair mise. Tha e cuideachd na urram dhòmhsa a bhith a’ toirt seachad an ceòl a sgrìobh mi airson ‘The Seer’ dhan an òigridh seo a tha cho comasach.

Thuirt Manaidsear Leasachaidh Fèisean nan Gàidheal Calum Ailig Macmhaoilein, “Tha e cho math gu bheil òigridh nam Fèisean a’ faighinn an cothrom a bhith cluiche aig Fèis cho ainmeil ri Celtic Connections ‘s gu h-àiridh mar phàirt den cuirm fosglaidh. Tha tachartasan mar seo a’ toirt misneachd agus togail mhòr dhan òigridh, mar a chunnaic sinn le Ceòl nam Fèis agus Òran Mòr an uiridh, agus na phàirt chudromach dhan leasachadh aca mar luchd-ciùil òga.

Tòisichidh a’ chonsart aig 730f ann an Talla Chonsart Rìoghail Ghlaschu. Bidh cothrom ann cuid dhan a’ chonsart fhaicinn, le agallamhan com-pàirtiche, air BBC Alba anns na beagan seachdainean a tha romhainn.  

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