It’s a classical line-up at Ruthven Festival
Two concerts will be held next month as part of this year’s annual Ruthven Parish Festival.
The newly-renovated Ruthven Community Hall, previously the local parish church, will play host to classical musicians on June 9 and 11.
Both events will feature the Ruthven Players, whose members have consistently impressed the festival’s audiences over the last 28 years.
“Listening to the wonderful sound of the Ruthven Players in the acoustically-perfect Ruthven Community Hall is always a treat,” said festival secretary Evelyn Hood.
She added: “The concert on the evening of June 9 features the music of Sphor, an often overlooked but outstanding composer, Mozart, Shostakovich and a selection of folksong arrangements by Gordon Jacob.
“And, in a break from tradition, the Ruthven Players’ woodwinds will take centre stage for Gounod’s Petite Symphonie pour Instruments à Vent, which conductor Howard Duthie describes as ‘full of Gallic je ne sais quoi.’”
Allan Young will conduct the Ruthven Players at the Sunday afternoon concert, when members will be joined on stage by top Welsh soprano Zoe Perman.
Ruthven Community Hall is on the Perth and Kinross/ Angus border, near Alyth.
In addition to the two June concerts, festival organisers will be holding a guitar workshop in the community hall on Saturday, September 23.
This workshop will be led by guitar maestro Michael McGeary, who was the first guitarist to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has performed all over the world.
“This workshop is open to all guitarists, regardless of age, skill level or kind of guitar,” concluded Evelyn.
Booking for the Ruthven Music Festival is now open. Tickets are £20 for each concert, which includes a wine reception, Friday evening buffet and Sunday afternoon strawberries and cream.
Anyone under the age of 12 is allowed entry free of charge.
For more information, email ruthvenfestival@tiscali. co.uk or call 01828 632558.
To book a place at the guitar workshop (£25, under-18s and students £10), email kathleen.campbell10@ btinternet.com or call 01250 876701.
Zoe Perman is at the Ruthven fest next month