A MORAY TRADITIONAL MUSIC Festival is proving so popular with musicians that two new competitions are being introduced for the 2016 event.
The Keith TMSA Festival has seen phenomenal success in recent years – with the result that for the 41st annual event next month and additional piano section is being introduced for those 13-years and over.
It will join the current 12 and under piano competition – and a new ‘Freestyle’ instrumentalist section, also created for the first time this year.
As in previous Festival’s there will also be Fiddle, Accordion, Poetry, Children, Men and Women singing competitions and the much anticipated ‘Bothy Ballad’, the winner of which will receive an invitation to compete in the Both Ballad Champion of Champions event in Elgin next year.
Festival chair Kathleen Anderson said: “It’s wonderful that we have been getting such a great number of entries over the past few years that we can introduce extra competitions. This shows how healthy traditional music is in the North East of Scotland.
“We are very lucky to have such a great amount of entries from young people from Keith and the surrounding areas.
“The Festival gives a great platform for these young people to perform and we have seen many come through the Festival ranks to become wonderful musicians and singers – indeed, some of those who have been competitors in the past are guests at this year’s Festival.
“The competitions are free to enter and it’s free to come and watch them too so hopefully we will get a good number of entries again, as well as spectators.”
Keith TMSA runs from Friday, June 10 until Sunday, June 12 at various locations throughout the town. Information on the Festival and ticketing can be found online.
Entries for the competitions will be accepted until Saturday, June 11 with forms available from the Festival Office, located in the Pop-Up Shop on Mid Street in Keith from 9.15am on the day.