Piping Society recital has top international guest
Details for the second recital of the Lewis and Harris Piping Society's winter programme have been released as the first was hailed a great success.
Canadian piper Glenn Brown, who won the piobaireachd competition at the prestigious Glenfiddich solo piping competition in October, will play in the Caladh Hotel in Stornoway on Saturday January 18, 2020, at 7.30pm.
During that day, Mr Brown will be taking workshops with a focus on helping youngsters from the Lewis and Harris Youth Pipe Band.
The previous recital, on November 9, featured 2018 overall runner-up at the Glenfiddich competition, Callum Beaumont.
The chairman of the society, Dr John Smith, said Mr Beaumont's workshop and recital went very well and they look forward to welcoming Glenn Brown to Stornoway.
Speaking of the first recital, Dr Smith said: ‘The day was very successful. The children thoroughly enjoyed the morning session with Callum, who of course is used to teaching youngsters, and in the afternoon about half a dozen of the pipers from the band were taken through new tunes with his skilled assistance and they were very pleased with that as well.
‘There were between 40 and 50 people present and I was quite pleased with that turnout to our first recital of the current season.
‘Glenn Brown is in his mid-30s and has been playing since the age of nine. Piping is in his blood as he was taught by his mother, Gail Brown, whom he still lists as one of his favourite pipers.'
A very generous donation to the society from a private individual has meant that a programme of recitals is now possible again after being absent from the calendar for a decade. They are hoping to have four in this winter programme.
Tickets will be £10, with £8 concessions, and under-16s get in free. There will be two workshops during the day, from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm.