Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson is among the big-name musicians who are to perform alongside the Highlands’ most promising teenagers at a one-off concert Inverness later this summer.

The Ceòlraidh concert is the result of a special competition which gave young musicians the opportunity to apply to work with their musical role-models to collaborate on a piece of music or song for the event.

Run by Fèis Rois – an organisation that promotes traditional music and culture – and sponsored by the Faculty of Advocates, the Ceòlraidh competition was open to more than 1,000 young musicians aged between 12 and 19.

A dozen young people, including one four-piece band, will participate in the special concert in Inverness’ Eden Court Theatre early next month (Saturday, September 11).

Some of the other stars to lend their backing to the concert are fiddler Aonghas Grant, whose music was used in the film Rob Roy, piper Allan MacDonald and accordion player Donald Shaw, a founder member of Capercaillie and star of Celtic Connections 2004.

The famous faces have each been paired off with a young musician with whom they will work in one-to-one sessions before performing the resulting material together at the Eden Court Theatre.

In addition to his performance with teenage piper Angus Binne, Allan MacDonald will also be creating a special Gaelic song and music piece with the song group Fionnar while Donald Shaw will be creating a spectacular finale which will feature still more budding musical talents from Feis Rois.

Established in 1986, Fèis Rois is the leading organisation for promoting participation in traditional music and culture, through a dynamic year-round programme.

Thousands of children and adults take part in Fèis Rois events each year and many former participants have gone on to perform professionally.

Fèis Rois also runs weekly classes for musicians across the Highlands and organises dozens of one-off and annual events at which its members can perform for the public.

Rita Hunter, of Feis Rois, said: “This project has been a brilliant development for our teenage participants. They are reaching high standards and the concert will really inspire them.”

Neil Brailsford QC, Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates, added: “The Faculty is delighted to be sponsoring this event. It is vitally important that Scotland’s traditions and heritage are not only kept alive but also that they are given every opportunity to continue to evolve.

“This project will do just that by allowing the performers to not only develop their own talents, but to produce music for others to enjoy.”