Gordon Gaitherin

Easter 1999 Newsletter 7

Patrons: Evelyn Glennie OBE and Martyn Bennett

Biggest Ever...

This Easter has seen the biggest ever Gordon Gaitherin for primary school age children. Well over a hundred youngsters packed into Kemnay Academy for a week of music, dance, drama and fun. Traditional instruments such as the clarsach and the tin whistle melded with modern techno rhythms and the beat of African drums. A busy teaching programme was supplemented by various leisure activities, all provided by fully qualified tutors and youth workers.

Some of the participants were residential at the Sir Arthur Grant Centre at Monymusk. At this well equipped centre, participants were provided with an evening meal and additional activities. For participants travelling each day, minibuses provided transport to and from a number of different pickup points throughout Central Aberdeenshire.

The Tutors' ceilidh on Tuesday night at the Bowling Club in Kemnay introduced the various tutors and their styles of music. The evening started with the formal presentation of a recent award of the Prince's Trust to the Gaitherin. The award has been used to fund much needed equipment for the Gaitherin. Some of the October participants, who have formed their own band, also treated us to their particular brand of music!

Stop Press The 'going-out' collection at the Tutors' Ceilidh raised over £200. This is to go to the Kosovo Appeal Fund - (great idea Mrs Temple!)

The culmination of the week is a presentation by the participants of their hard work during the week. This takes place in the main hall in Kemnay Academy and is always an entertaining evening. Often most impressive is the progress made in one week by youngsters who have never played an instrument before.

Other events are organised throughout the year and have recently included concerts promoting the 'Skye Banned'. The 'Skye Banned' was formed by a number of the older participants, and plays a variety of traditional and modern music. They have supported well known names including Saxation, Shindig and Martyn Bennett.

The Gaitherin runs two main festivals each year, one at Easter for primary age and one in October for secondary pupils. Each festival gives young people an important opportunity to actively learn more about the culture and heritage of the North-East of Scotland, with the emphasis being to present it in a modern idiom.

Events since last October

The Gaitherin is now much more than two festivals per year and the following events have taken place since our last newsletter.

In November, the Stewart's Hall in Huntly was packed out for Martyn Bennett and Cuillin Music. The Skye Banned provided support and the evening was a great success.

Another first, this proved a popular evening for friends of the Gaitherin and their families. Insch Community Centre was the venue and a good time was had by all. Informal musical entertainment was provided by both the young and the not so young!

A mini-Gaitherin was run in February for some of the older participants. This was a residential weekend at Sir Arthur Grants. Jim Hunter and Ian Macdonald were the tutors and the emphasis was on developing improvisation skills.

The very popular Shindig kindly agreed to play for a Gaitherin fund raising event in March. A 'caller' encouraged all ages to get up on the floor and dance! Once more, Skye Banned provided support.

Future Plans

An adult Gaitherin is currently being planned for the last weekend in August. So far the Gaitherin has concentrated in work amongst young people but it is worth pointing out that the Feis Rois in Gairloch now attracts over 100 adults every year. So look out for more information and put the date in your diary!


The "Skye Banned"

A major step forward in the history of the Gaitherin, has been the formation by some of the older participants of their own band. The members of the band meet regularly and plan and develop their own programme. They have even applied for, and received (!), funding by their own efforts. Having said that, they are fully supported by the Gaitherin Committee who provide advice and help where required. At the Easter Tutors' Ceilidh, Alan Young, from the Princes Trust, described the band as "only... superb!"

Gaitherin Web Site

Our web site gets regular visits from around the globe. Please encourage the webmaster by sending you comments (hopefully favourable!) to gaitherin@tillybin.ifb.co.uk.

Management Committee

The Gaitherin is run by a small committee of Community Education workers and interested parents and young people. We are always looking for anyone who would like to help - if you are interested please get in touch.

Contacts:

If you require further information on any aspect of the Gordon Gaitherin, please contact Community Education Workers Wilma Smith on 01467 643535 or Deirdre Macdonald on 01466 792502.

Support your local Charity Shop

The Garioch Charities Shop is on High Street in Inverurie. It is open every day except Sunday from 10 until 4. This shop exists to support four charities: Homestart, Friends of Inverurie Hospital, the Friday Club and, of course, our own Gordon Gaitherin. If you live in the area, please do support the shop, to provide items for sale, to go along and shop, or if you can consider helping - even just for a short time - it can be good fun!

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