"i know you don't use capitals, but this event has to be the exception...amaSing with a capital A."
- audience member
what’s this new word? amaSing? well, strathpeffer found out on sunday, as folk gathered from all over the district to sing bohemian rhapsody (which, by the way, isn’t easy!) under the guidance of glaswegian conductor, chris barr. and the result? amazing, even if your reviewer had originally been under the impression that the piece was a choral work by some classical composer like johann strauss. but he now knows better!
but, what is amaSing all about? it’s the dream of emily scott to bring singing into remote
communities, especially for younger people, and to offer a concert platform. and that’s what’s
happening and is going to happen. mark the weekend of saturday august 31 and sunday 1
september in your diary for an amaSing festival in strathpeffer, and watch this space, as acts who already have the dates booked to come, firm up and further announcements are made. plans are to centre activities for the weekend on a big stage at castle leod, but also to run workshops and music of all sorts throughout the village, and to hold a singer/songwriter competition.
but, back to sunday. the amaSing event was the opening act, so to speak, of what is to follow over the coming months, and as such it’s very promising indeed. the public (and that meant anyone, not just trained musicians and singers) were grouped by voice (soprano, alto and baritone) and put through their paces learning to harmonise. just five hours later they were ready to perform, which they did at a free concert. but before the amaSing singers took to the stage, a number of small sets were performed by local musicians (including ivor blair, conor o' hara, loran mathieson and emily scott) showing a wonderful diversity of performance in an intimate setting.
then the amaSing singers sang their socks off accompanied by a full rock ensemble (ryan moodie - keys, ivor blair - guitar, liam ross - bass, conor o'hara - drums). it was truly great and, if not quite, up to the standard of queen. I have no doubt that freddie will be giving it a nod of approval! certainly, that old lady the pavilion hitched her skirts up for the event.
KB
find photos of the event day in our gallery section.
but, what is amaSing all about? it’s the dream of emily scott to bring singing into remote
communities, especially for younger people, and to offer a concert platform. and that’s what’s
happening and is going to happen. mark the weekend of saturday august 31 and sunday 1
september in your diary for an amaSing festival in strathpeffer, and watch this space, as acts who already have the dates booked to come, firm up and further announcements are made. plans are to centre activities for the weekend on a big stage at castle leod, but also to run workshops and music of all sorts throughout the village, and to hold a singer/songwriter competition.
but, back to sunday. the amaSing event was the opening act, so to speak, of what is to follow over the coming months, and as such it’s very promising indeed. the public (and that meant anyone, not just trained musicians and singers) were grouped by voice (soprano, alto and baritone) and put through their paces learning to harmonise. just five hours later they were ready to perform, which they did at a free concert. but before the amaSing singers took to the stage, a number of small sets were performed by local musicians (including ivor blair, conor o' hara, loran mathieson and emily scott) showing a wonderful diversity of performance in an intimate setting.
then the amaSing singers sang their socks off accompanied by a full rock ensemble (ryan moodie - keys, ivor blair - guitar, liam ross - bass, conor o'hara - drums). it was truly great and, if not quite, up to the standard of queen. I have no doubt that freddie will be giving it a nod of approval! certainly, that old lady the pavilion hitched her skirts up for the event.
KB
find photos of the event day in our gallery section.
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