Praise all round at the 40th music and dance festival
It was another “wonderful” Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival in Oban last weekend, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
This year saw the return of the junior fiddle and junior accordion (under 18s) competitions, adding to the already popular piping, drumming and dancing events, as well as a new choreography competition.
The festival, started in February 1984, sees many top-class musicians and dancers from Argyll and further afield competing in a range of competitions.
The festival weekend, from Friday May 3 to Sunday May 5, started with schools’ day, including a choir section and recorder groups this year, adding to the action song, folk group and ensemble classes.
On Saturday there were piping, drumming and chanter competitions in Oban High School, and junior accordion and junior fiddle competitions in the Royal Hotel.
Alexander Liddell, son of champion Inveraray piper Stuart Liddell, came third in the under-12 chanter competition.
The junior fiddle and accordion competitions returned for the first time since Covid on Saturday morning.
The Highland dancing - “the only team Highland dancing competition in the world” - is “an extremely popular event”, organisers said.
Dance teacher Ella Edgar MBE from Islay, who has been teaching on Islay and Jura for 57 years, must have been delighted when one of her pupils, Eva Katie MacIntyre from Port Ellen, won the confined Argyll and Bute and Western Isles in the 16 and over class.
Ella said: “I have been coming
Proud dad and champion piper Stuart Liddell with his son Alexander in only his second competition, picking up a medal for third place in the chanter.
to the HIMDF for many many years. It is one of the
most successful and enjoyable events in the year.
“It is a very well organised three-day festival which is very well run by the organisers and volunteers.”
Ella Edgar MBE from Islay, who has been teaching in Islay and Jura for 57 years, with pupil Eva Katie MacIntyre and Maryann McCreadie, friend and fellow Highland dance teacher.