As part of an ongoing collaboration between Live Music Now Scotland, the organisation that gives emerging artists the opportunity of performing at the start of their careers, and the Isle of Skye’s only established chamber music society, Skye Chamber Music, harpist Sophie Rocks will take up the first in a series of creative practice residencies.
Sophie Rocks, a classical harpist who will be honing her musical skill on the island, as well as giving back to the community as her residency on the island will include participatory performances at Broadford and Portree primary schools and Home Farm Care Home, with outreach activity on the neighbouring Island of Raasay in the pipeline.
Director at Live Music Now Scotland, Carol Main MBE, said “We are delighted to announce this next phase in our partnership with Skye Chamber Music which will see the brilliant harpist Sophie Rocks take up residency on Skye, bringing not only classical music to school children across the region, but also providing inspiration for her own repertoire.”
The residency, that takes place over 9 days from 21st to 29th May, will allow Sophie to take inspiration from the island’s surroundings before sharing her music at local schools and care homes and offers free access to high quality classical music throughout communities on the Isle of Skye through a diverse range of concerts and performances, including a full concert for Skye Chamber Music in St Columba’s Church in Portree at 19:30 on Friday 26th May 2023.
This residency is the next stage of the collaboration which has already provided a vital programme of musical outreach for island communities. This has included blind pianist, Ethan Loch, a member of LMNS’ Pathways programme for artists who face barriers in their performing practice. Ethan shared his talent with pupils at local Gaelic Primary School, Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Phort Righ, earlier this January. Then in March, Portree audiences were treated to a showcase from accordionist Alena Bulatetskaya and classical guitarist, Jacopo Lazzaretti as part of Skye Chamber Music, to the appreciation of pupils and staff in Staffin, Carbost, Dunvegan and Skeabost.
The project is made possible with funding from Chamber Music Scotland, an organisation that celebrates chamber music’s tradition, Live Music Now Scotland and Skye Chamber Music.
Tickets for all public concerts in the Skye Chamber Music 2022-23 season are available on the door and are £12 with season tickets also available for £50.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 