Outstanding young professional musicians, Anna-Wendy Stevenson, fiddle, and Wick-born pianist James Ross, are playing for local senior citizens, adults with learning disabilities, school children, elderly people in care and children with disabilities as part of a 9-concert Orkney tour from 19 – 22 September 2005.

The concerts are organised through the Scotland branch of Live Music Now!, the UK’s largest music outreach organisation, founded by Yehudi Menuhin.

This is the first time that Live Music Now has presented a tour in Orkney since 2001, when local musicians Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley were part of the scheme. They are now delighted to welcome Anna-Wendy and James to The Reel, their Castle Street centre for music in Kirkwall.

The four day tour is funded by The Robertson Trust.

Carol Main, Director, Live Music Now! Scotland, said ‘Many people do not get the opportunity to enjoy live music on a regular basis. Through these concerts, and many others, Live Music Now! aims to take live music to groups, such as older people and adults and children with disabilities, who might not normally have access to it’.

For the musicians, who are in the early stages of their careers, the performances give invaluable experience, building confidence and developing abilities to interact with audiences, which are vital skills for their professional lives.

Concert Details

Monday 19 September
11.00am West Mainland Day Centre, Stenness.
Older adults with disabilities

1.30pm St Colm’s Centre, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall
Adults with learning disabilities

6.00pm St Peter’s Residential Home, Back Street, Stromness
Elderly people in residential care, including dementia sufferers

Tue 20 September
2.00pm St Rognvald's House, Old Scapa Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
Elderly people in residential care, including dementia sufferers

Eve – time The Reel, Centre of Music, 3 Castle Street, tbc Kirkwall
General community

Wed 21 September
10.00am Glaitness Primary School, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall
P1, P2 plus two support classes

2.30pm Smiddybrae, Vetquoy Road, Dounby
Frail elderly people, including dementia sufferers, in residential care, plus residents from Scarva Taing supported
accommodation)

6.00pm Aurida House, Papdale Loan, Kirkwall
Children age 5 – 13 with range of learning and physical disabilities in respite

Thu 22 September
9.15am Kirkwall Grammar School, Papdale, Kirkwall
Children age 11+ with moderate learning disabilities