Extra prep needed for Perform in Perth 2021

Perform in Perth has put out a call for entrants to be extra organised this year as some will need an accompanist and this will have to be pre-recorded.

Every year the festival employs a small number of official professional accompanists and, this year when everything will happen online, they have agreed to pre-record backing tracks for the use of performers.

Secretary for Perform in Perth, Eileen Waterston, explained that where performers were able to use their own accompanist, they were free to do so,“but, particularly for singing, woodwind and brass, performers are generally not permitted to play in the same room as another individual, so our backing tracks will be crucial for them.”

She said all performers will be able to choose to perform either unaccompanied, with a backing track or with their own accompanist.

And where a backing track is supplied with the book, that would be what would be used.

“Otherwise, we are arranging to have our accompanists record the piano accompaniment.

“In the case of the Disney classes, if anyone requires these, they will need to request a backing track.

“Links to audio files will be placed on the website and, if a file is not there, people will need to request that we record it for them.

“For Own Choice classes, including Disney, a deadline will need to be set for performers requesting a backing track.”

Deadlines were roughly 14 days before the class dates which are in early March.

More information is at www.perthshire-musicfestival.org.uk