Crafting musical instruments from East Neuk beach junk

Annual gathering promises vibrant mix of classical and avant-garde sounds

Beach debris will be transformed into musical instruments for an awardwinning festival in Fife this summer.

East Neuk Festival will bring classical musicians from around the world to towns and villages including St Monans, Anstruther, Kilrenny and Crail.

This year’s ENF Big Project will involve community beach cleans from which rubbish will be used to make instruments for a huge performance by the 100-piece Fantastic Plastic Parade Band, in partnership with the Scottish Fisheries Museum and Cellardyke Sea Queen Festival.

Another highlight of the July event will be the The Tallis Scholars giving their first performance of Arvo Pärt’s rarely-performed Kanon Pokajanen in a focus on the Estonian composer.

Announcing this year’s programme festival director, Svend Mcewanbrown, said: “Thinking about ENF’S programme this year began with rubbish, literally!

“I am delighted that composer and instrument maker Graeme Leak will be leading our Big Project to clear East Neuk beaches then turn some of what we uplift into brilliant instruments to play.

“This year is also a time for us to relish what enduring relationships can bring to a festival.

“The Tallis Scholars, regular visitors for a decade, offer an exceptional, huge work, Pärt’s Kanon Pokajanen – which they sing for the first time.”

Outstanding young musicians Benjamin Baker, Mei Diyang and Maxim Calver will also return to be coached by legendary cellist Valentin Erben and tackle Mozart’s Divertimento in E Flat.

The festival from July 1 to 5 will also mark 250 years since Beethoven’s birth, focusing on three works he considered to be the music of the future.

Other returning musicians will include pianists Llyr Williams and

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This year’s programme began with rubbish. SVEND MCEWANBROWN

Yeol Eum Son, and the Calidore and Castalian quartets.

Performing for the first time will be the Belfiato Quintet, harpists Oliver Wass and Esther Swift, organist Tom Wilkinson, Omar Puente Sextet, David Chadwick, Marit Fält and conductor Daniel Blendulf.

The programme can be viewed at www.eastneukfestival.com/ and tickets can be booked from February 13 at hubtickets.co.uk/eastneukfestival.

Richard Wemyss and Ellie Deas from Cellardyke Sea Queen festival with artist Graeme Leak, centre, on Anstruther beach as they prepare to turn seashore litter into musical instruments.