On 4 May after their spectacular wins at the Pan Celtic Festival in Letterkenny Itreland and as a part of Ceòl aig Tuath/Music in the North, special guests Raymond Bremner, Riona & Alasdair Whyte, will perform with Melvich Gaelic Choir/Còisir Ghàidhlig Mhealabhaich to showcase their exciting mix of fast paced and award winning Gaelic songs celebrating the beauty of the Gaelic language and the power of full harmonies.

A mix of songs full of lightness, fun and the edge of sadness that makes Gaelic music so beloved by so many people all over the world. On the morning of Saturday May 5 the guest artists will lead a workshop from 10.30am – 1pm, for all ages and all stages of experience in Gaelic song – whether you are interested in singing a Gaelic lullaby to your grandchild, singing in the shower or thinking about a first experience of singing in the competitions at the local Caithness and Sutherland Mòd in Thurso on June 9.

Riona Whyte has been singing at local Mòds since she was five years old. She won the Silver Pendant in Edinburgh in 1986, when she was heavily pregnant with her son Alasdair. In Stornoway in 2001 she won the Gold medal. Since 2003 she has been running a Junior Mòd Club in Mull and tutors local children wishing to compete at the National Mòd.

It has taken a few years to establish and she had 12 competitors at last years National Mod. Classes started again in January 2007 and 25 turned up! I suppose you could say that Alasdair’ Whyte’s first Mòd experience was in 1986 when he helped his mother Riona, win the Silver Pendant in Edinburgh. He started singing at local Mòds at the age of four, entered the Senior competition for the first time in Stornoway 2005 and won the Gold Medal in Dunoon last year.

Raymond Bremner in the conductor of Melvich Gaelic Choir/Còisir Ghàidhlig Mhealabhaich mixed voices, and is a committed singer and promoter of Gaelic culture. He lives in Thrumster and won his Gold Medal in 1999.

The worskhop is included in the cost of the concert ticket but a place must be booked. Both the concert and the workshop are at Lyth Arts Centre and all booking should be made through 01955 641270 or via www.lytharts.org.uk

For more information contact:

Alexandria Patience
Ceòl aig Tuath/ Music in the North
A project of Còisir Ghàidhlig Mhealabhaich /Melvich
Gaelic Choir
01641 531355
07786946008