Glasgow Letter
Next week, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are hosting Recital Festival.
Showcasing a diverse programme of new work by students of the Traditional Music Department, the Recital Festival celebrates the culmination of years of study by these emerging professionals.
The event is a full week’s programme, across three different venues – Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (the CCA); the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; and the National Piping Centre.
All concerts are free entry, 45 minutes in duration, and performers will draw on skills in performance, research, and critical artistry. Full details of who is playing on which day are available on the RCS website.
Meanwhile, the Reeling festival, which takes place in Rouken Glen Park next month, has announced on social media that it will be teaming up with the Royal National Mòd on some events in the future.
Their post on Facebook reads: “The Mòd is returning to Paisley this October, just 15 mins along the road from our own home at Rouken Glen Park! Given it’s so close we thought it would be a good idea to team up with Mòd Phàislig 2023 to help in their celebration of Gaelic language and culture. Mòd Phàislig will run from 13-21 October 2023 and features a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic song, poetry, literature, drama, instrumental, Highland dancing and sport. Over 2,000 participants from across the world are expected to take part in a total of 200 competitions. There will also be a very exciting fringe programme of events that The Reeling will be involved with. Stay tuned for more details on that.”
Finally, you may recall I wrote a number of weeks ago about the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association’s plea for new committee members to help secure the future of the organisation. I was, therefore, delighted to read last week that their Annual General Meeting was a success and their subsequent social media statement was full of optimism for the years ahead.
The administration of their official Facebook page wrote: “I am absolutely delighted to report that tonight's AGM puts the Association in good shape for the future. We have some continuity with all existing office-bearers carrying on in their roles but a whole host of new faces (some with previous experience on the Committee) providing the energy and fresh ideas we were looking for.
"Many thanks to all who attended and have volunteered.”
From the perspective of someone who has sung at their annual gathering a couple of times over the years, and who always enjoys a dance no matter which island association is hosting it, I’m delighted to hear this positive news from the Lewis/Harris Association.