HISTORY
2016 is our 26th Anniversary and, during that time, The Kiltearn Fiddlers have performed at home in the Highlands and in Scotland and abroad the Kiltearn Fiddlers have played at the Festival of Cornouaille, Brittany, Brideswell Festival, Ireland and Falun Fok Festival, Sweden.
We recorded our 3rd CD, "Kitchen Sessions" in both Alpha's Kitchen and Foulis Castle, near Evanton. The CD was aired on "Take the Floor" on Radio Scotland and on Radio nan Gàidheal. The CD features solo perfomances from Graham Mackenzie, Emma Donald, Eilidh Ramsay, Alasdair Turner and Gordon Ferguson and some beautiful arrangements from the full Kiltearn ensemble.
We have competed and performed at the Highland Festival, Blas Festival and Llangollen International Eisteddfod and individual performers have played at Celtic Connections, Glasgow and the Cambridge Folk Festival.
Below is just part of the last 26 years in photographs.
| AT THE LAUNCH OF THE "EARTH, WIND AND FIRE" CD. |
| ON STAGE AT THE FESTIVAL OF CORNOUAILLE, BRITTANY TOGETHER WITH THE LOCAL PIPE BAND. |
Playing on a viking boat in Roskilde - Denmark!
| AT THE FALUN FOK FESTIVAL, SWEDEN, WORKING WITH A HARDANGER FIDDLE PLAYER AND LEARNING A WAULKING SONG. |
| AT THE EDINBURGH FIDDLE FESTIVAL. |
| TWO OF THE PRODUCTIONS THE KILTEARN FIDDLERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH. |
HARARE ORPHANS
Kiltearn Fiddlers have recently connected with a strings group in Harare, Zimbabw. Kiltearn Fiddlers have raised money for the Harare children and it has gone towards buying cellos for them. In 2012 the Celebration Children's Orchestra took the marimbas that the Kiltearn Fiddlers donated funds to purchase to Italy! The cellos that you helped pay for the delivery of arrived and 5 of the children are learning cello from USA cellist Amy Macy.
| ALPHA IN A BLUR CONDUCTING THE FIDDLERS AT INVERNESS CATHEDRAL |
| SEA CROMARTY SPARKLE FESTIVAL |
The fiddlers playing for Prince Edward.
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LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC EISTEDDFOD MEMORIES |
| PERFORMING ON STAGE AT THE EDEN COURT THEATRE, INVERNESS, DURING THE BLAS FESTIVAL, 2008 |
THE GREAT HIGHLAND CLANS CONCERTS
Blas 2009 staged a series of concerts, in conjunction with Homecoming Scotland 2009, celebrating the music, song and history of some of the most iconic Highland Clans and their traditional lands.
In these concerts some of Scotland’s most accomplished musicians & singers performed selected pieces of music and song which related to the clan and their homelands. There was also a narration giving the background and interesting facts about the Clan families and their peoples.
Kiltearn Fiddlers played at the Clan Munro concert, under the direction of Alpha, who is the wife of the current Clan Chief, Hector. The concert was held in Foulis Castle, near Evanton, the seat of the Clan Munro.
The origins of Clan Munro are lost in the distant past. By tradition, C11th mercenary soldiers from Ireland, they were granted Lands in Ross by a grateful King after assisting him in defeating the Viking invaders of this part of Scotland.
From documentary evidence, they were well established by the middle of the C14th on the north shore of the Cromarty Firth in the area known as Ferindonald (Donald's land) after their legendary first chief. From this narrow base comprising the modern parishes of Kiltearn and Alness they gradually spread their sphere of influence northwards and eastwards into the fertile plain of Easter Ross.
Other artists at the concert were Eilidh Mackenzie (Narrator, Researcher & Singer), Duncan MacGillivray (Pipes & Whistles), Gordon Gunn (Fiddle) and Brian MacAlpine (Accordion & Piano).
More information at Blas Festival and mygaelic.com
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IN 2009 A SMALL GROUP OF FIDDLERS CAME SECOND IN THE INVERNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL |
The sucsess of the music festival as continued through the years and here they are seen pictured with the 2014 trophy.
