Youth Music Organisations

Adagan A’bhac (Broadbay Gaelic Group) has been running for 1.5 years and meets weekly in Sgoil a’Bhac, Isle of Lewis. 8 young people are usually involved and the group is involved in various activities through the medium of Gaelic, including recently completing the production of a radio programme.

The Advanced Saxophone Group meets weekly in the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway and was started in 2006. By video conferencing with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama it provides advanced saxophone teaching to three young people and was set up by CnES in partnership with RSAMD.

The Jazz Club has been running for two years and meets weekly at the Nicholson Institute. It is supported by ‘Music Project Hebrides’ and is preparing fro the Kaleidoscope Festival starting 13 April 2008. The twenty-five strong group was initially fired up by workshops and a concert featuring Euan Stevenson and Kinrda Wisniewski. The main aim of the group is ‘to embed jazz as a musical genre within the Western isles for both young people and adults to enjoy,’

The twenty-five strong Stornoway Big Band has been running weekly from the Nicholson Institute for three years. It plays Big band and Swing (as a Swing Band) music weekly and also works towards concerts and competitions with support from Music Project Hebrides

Ceol Na Cloinne has been meeting twice a month in Sir E Scott School in Tarbert, Harris for two years. Members meet to play and enjoy traditional music together in an informal environment. Their aim is to be inspired by being together as a group and supporting each other as well as by the traditional music. Sixteen in number, the group also meets for competitions and performances and is a popular act at various community events.

Flying Fiddles was set up in 2003 and practises weekly in Sgoil Lionacleit on Mondays during term time. They meet to increase their skills in playing Scottish traditional fiddle music, ‘composing and arranging our own music and performing at concerts locally and further afield.’ In October 2007 Flying Fiddles performed at the Martyn Bennett Night at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh to critical acclaim. In partnership with Ceolas, advanced fiddlers also meet in Sgoil Lionacleit.

For the last sixteen years during one week each summer, Fèis Eilean an Fhraoich has been running from the Nicholson Institute. It is part of the Scotland-wide Fèis movement which provides Gaelic singing, drama and traditional instrumental music. The Fèis movement in the Western Isles has worked in partnership with many organisations and inter-Fèis activities also take place. Fèis Eilean an Fhraoich attracts about one hundred and fifty participants.

Lasagan Gaelic drama group has been going strong on the Isle of Barra for more than twenty years. Meeting weekly, it provides a lively mix of Gaelic drama, music, song and dance and works towards performances. Forty to fifty children are usually involved and the group is inspired by many things, but all things Gaelic. Aiming to promote the island culture to young people in a meaningful, modern way, group leaders agree that members enjoy the performances and the fun attached to the sessions.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival happens in Stornoway each summer – four days of performances and workshops for children, young people and families, as well as the rest of the community. Working with more partners than is possible to mention, the festival aims to open the eyes and ears of the hundreds of young people it reaches to traditional music and the possibilities of performance. The ability to inspire others is the festival’s inspiration.

Mòd Ionadail Leòdhais is a competition-based festival which, every June, in one of the major highlights of the Gaelic cultural year. It is based in Stornoway and provides for and involves the majority of schools in Lewis along with many teachers, instructors and members of the community throughout the island.

Mòd na Hearradh marks the only time in the school year when all the schools in Harris come together, with all schools participating. The strength of the participation in Mòd na Hearradh is carried through when it is time for the National Mòd, where the level and standard of participation from Harris is very high. The Harris Mòd is also a competition and concert-based festival of solo and choral singing, instrumental music and spoken Gaelic.