Provost tunes in to support music and dance festival
This year’s Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival has secured funding from Argyll and Bute’s Provost Civic Fund.
Provost Len Scoullar has been invited to the festival’s official launch at The Regent Hotel on Monday April 8 along with other supporters, volunteers, stewards, councillors and musicians.
Entries have now closed for this year’s competitions and numbers are up.
Organisers are delighted to see entries for woodwind, singing and piping have all increased on 2018.
So far there are about 50 in the woodwind section, 34 in singing and 91 in the piping category. As well as a piper from New Zealand competing in 2019, an entry from Canada has also been received.
Piano has also ‘come alive this year’ with 10 entries which means the Steinway at St John’s Cathedral in George Street will get used over the weekend.
Changing the syllabus to include Gaelic song has also encouraged a big influx of 34 entries, the festival’s link with Feis Latharna may also have contributed.
The dancing format has changed with a Pre Premier competition on Saturday March 30. And there will be a fundraising ceilidh that night in The View, George Street, from 8pm for all.
‘We have secured funding and support from the Provost’s Civic Fund and shall be hosting a reception in the Regent Hotel with the Provost in attendance, said a festival spokesperson
‘We are keen for as many of our committed volunteers, stewards, Councillors, musicians to attend so we can celebrate their work and the positive impact the Festival has had on Oban over the years.’
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