Alison Kinnaird’s performance during a service at Dornoch Cathedral as part of the Blas Festival has a special significance because she also designed and engraved a stunning ‘praise’ window, recently installed in the Cathedral.

Alison is a celebrated player and authority on the Scottish small harp or clàrsach with many recording to her name, in some of which she is joined by Christine Primrose, a fine Gaelic singer from Lewis, who will also perform during the service on Sunday 4th September. But Alison is also among the top flight of the country’s glass artists and engravers and some of her work more recent work features in the new Scottish Parliament.

The window was commissioned by Isabel Anderson to commemorate her late husband, Stuart who was organist for the Cathedral for many years. She was keen for Alison to undertake this commission given her interest and expertise in both glass work and music. For this commission, Alison collaborated with Shetland-based Patrick Ross-Smith, who assembled and installed the glass which she designed and engraved.

The ‘Praise’ window’s design was inspired by traditional music and includes images of singers, pipers, fiddlers and clàrsach players. It also includes some personal elements, such as a rainbow, suggested by Mrs Anderson, and three stars which echo Dornoch’s Burgh crest.

Alison is delighted to have an opportunity to play in Dornoch Cathedral during the Blas Festival, “It was wonderful to be asked to create a window for such an historic building which commemorate someone who contributed so much to the life of the cathedral. I haven’t played in Dornoch Cathedral before and I am looking forward to doing so. It is a wonderful setting and one with which I now have a greater personal and professional attachment because of the ‘Praise’ window.”"

8.30pm, Sunday 4th September at Dornoch Cathedral - Bi-lingual Service with Alison Kinnaird & Christine Primrose and the Dingwall Gaelic Choir. Presented by Dornoch Cathedral in conjunction with Blas.
Unticketed, all welcome.