The Fraser Shaw Trust were delighted to award the first of their grants in January to the traditional music group at Islay High School, to help fund an exciting trip to Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections. Lewis Davey writes:
“Myself and 3 other students from the Islay High School traditional music band, Anna Mitchell, James Kitching and Amy Want, accompanied by Miss MacGregor, took a trip to Glasgow to see some of this year’s Celtic Connections concerts. On Friday, after a hearty breakfast we walked to the Royal Concert Hall to watch the first of three concerts: amazing music from Scottish band Ímar and Galician band Oreka TX, who showcased their native instruments like the txalaparta.
When that concert had finished we went for a bite to eat in Buchanan Galleries and then were taken on a tour of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Traditional Music department, where we were shown round their many recital halls and recordings studios.
After this, we met with Fraser Shaw’s mum and step-dad, Margaret and Angus, back in the concert hall for a chat and a photograph. It was great to meet them as Fraser has been a massive influence to all of us in the trad group, and we are truly grateful to the Fraser Shaw Trust for helping to fund this amazing trip which we all enjoyed.
Before dinner, we went to our second Celtic Connections event of the day at the Danny Kyle stage, which we thoroughly enjoyed, giving us a taste of up-and-coming artists on the Scottish trad music scene. After a lovely meal at Tony Macaroni and a great catch-up with our former art teacher Miss Roberts, we went for the last concert of the night to watch the Tweed Project, a trad music band made up of Scots and English performers, which was a perfect way to round up a busy and jam-packed day.
The experience of Celtic Connections was, for me, amazing! It was a great show of Celtic culture not just from Scotland, but from all around the world, and an experience which I will treasure forever.”
For more information on how to apply for the Fraser Shaw Trust grant, email info@frasershawtrust.com
