Category: Student News

Updates etc on our Students old and Young.

On the ‘One and Other’ plinth

On the ‘One and Other’ plinth.
I’m delighted that I’ve been offered a place on the ‘One and Other’ 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square, and will be there with my fiddle
in the small hours of Sunday 13th September. I’m aiming to use the opportunity to raise some money for charity, and also raise
awareness of the Scots Music Group, so please pass this information on to anyone who you think may be interested. The hour is
recorded by ‘One and Other’ and will be streamed live on their website while I’m on the plinth.

As part of my hour on the plinth, I’ll be playing a lovely new tune, which has been specially composed by Sarah Northcott (who has
been a tutor with SMG since 1992). The tune currently has no name. An online auction, selling the right to name the new tune, will
be launched immediately after my spot on the plinth. The money from the winner’s bid will be donated to a charity of their choice.
Bids can be made online anytime during the week from 1am on Sunday 13th September and 1am on Sunday 20th September. There’s more
information on the auction here: http://www.scotsmusic.org/events/plinth_auction/

I’ll be joined by 5 friends from the Diggers session in Edinburgh, who will be recreating a typical Scottish traditional music
session at the base of the plinth. (Due to restrictions by the GLA, who have given us permission for this session to take place, we
are unfortunately not allowed to make this an open session, and have had to limit it to 5 musicians) If you are in London that
night, do come along and say hello!

I am also inviting people to pledge donations to the Scots Music Group, in return for which I will be making dedications from the
plinth top. More information about this here: http://www.scotsmusic.org/events/plinth_dedications/
You can pledge to watch, and leave messages on the One and Other website here: http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/ros_g

Cheers
Ros Gasson

Catriona Watt wows Hebrides Homecoming crowd.

A musical extravaganza took place on Saturday evening when Tattoo Hebrides was finished off with a Grand Concert at the Lewis Sports Centre, Stornoway.
Around 800 people packed out the centre’s sports hall to be entertained by John Carmichael, Deoch ‘n’ Dorus, massed local choirs, singers such as Catriona Watt and Gaelic band Bi Beo, Dougie Maclean, the Eilean An Fhraoich Pipe and 78th Fraser Highlanders pipe bands.
Many highlights were showcased during the evening including the beautiful voice of  Catriona Watt with her choice of Gaelic songs.  The skilful playing of Pipe Major Gordon Walker, the stirring ‘Highland Cathedral’ played by Eilean An Fhraoich pipe band and complimented by the beautiful tones of the massed choirs.
Dougie Maclean headlined in the second half of the concert and his songs and stories were an instant hit with the audience.
He finished the evening with his song ‘Caledonia’ and encouraged the audience to join in on this classic song of homecoming.