Superstar hosts young musicians
Young Mull Music Makers are back from performing with violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti in Glasgow.
The Scottish superstar violinist, who has won international fame, welcomed hundreds of youngsters from across the country, including 12 from Mull, to join in the first of her new Benedetti Foundation educational sessions for 2020 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The children performed in a mass strings orchestra, with 12-yearold Evie Kellet from Mull Music Makers being awarded a solo part. The Tobermory High School pupil, who lives at Salen, got the part despite only being able to get lessons once a month on the island through the Mull Music Makers project that raises funds to bring tutors over from the mainland.
‘May Evie’s hard work and commitment be a shining example to everyone!’ said the project’s Laura Mandleberg.
The youngest participant from Mull was seven-year-old Camryn Carmichael from Tobermory, who is a pupil at Salen Gaelic-medium school. She took part in the general musicianship workshop exploring pulse, rhythm and pitch, as well as singing and creating songs and soundscapes, and learning how to use body percussion.
‘My favourite part was getting to see Nicky play and I loved the sound of the drums in our workshop,’ said Camryn.
Just recently Mull Music makers received £750 from the new Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust in memory of the young Barra piper killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. The hope is the cash will help young people follow in Eilidh’s musical footsteps.