Young SC&T (Scottish Culture & Traditions): July 27^th-31^st

Young SC&T is a great opportunity for children in P4-P7 to develop their skills in traditional music. Players will have the chance to participate alongside experienced tutors, with the aim of extending their repertoire. They will learn from Sharon Hassan, a multi-instrumentalist who has been involved in tutoring traditional music for over 15 years. She will be joined by fiddle player Daniel Thorpe who was named Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2010, and has enjoyed a varied career both tutoring and performing. Players will have the chance to perform in a concert at Aberdeen University on Friday, 31^st July as part of AIYF’s ‘Up Close & Musical’ series.

Splore: July 27^th-31^st

Splore is one of AIYF’s longstanding summer courses, and is an excellent chance for 12 to 16 year olds to meet and play with other traditional musicians and learn from experienced tutors. Many past participants have gone on to experience success as winners of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and have progressed into full time careers in music. Accomplished fiddle player and singer Gillian Frame will be returning this year to lead the tutoring, this being her fourth summer in the role.  Splore is open to young people aged 12-16, and ends with an ensemble sharing performance on Friday, 31^st July at 3pm at Aberdeen University’s Macrobert building.

Ceòl Mòr: July 25^th– 31^st

2015 also marks the 10^th anniversary of Ceòl Mòr, one of AIYF’s summer courses for young musicians aged 16-25. The course offers young people the chance to learn and develop their skills, embracing the exciting genre-crossing music currently being written and performed in Scotland. Over the years the band has built relationships with a number of contemporary Scottish songwriters and musicians, and is delighted to welcome new faces and familiar ones back this year. Hamish Napier will once again be leading the band in 2015. A finalist in the BBC Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year, Hamish has also been nominated for Best Up and Coming Artist at the Scottish Trad awards. He will be joined by Laura Wilkie and Michael Fennie who both have a wealth of experience within the Scottish traditional music scene. The band will end the week with a performance at the Lemon Tree along with Routes String Quartet on Friday, 31^st July at 8.30pm.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival runs from 24^th July- 1^st August 2015 in venues across Aberdeen and the North East.

For more information and to download the application forms for all three of our Summer Courses, please visit our website. If you would like any more information about the courses, or about the festival itself, visit our website or phone the festival office: 01224 213 800.