We have made some exciting changes to our main Fèis events in 2023 and are delighted to announce the programme for our April Fèis. Instead of the usual residential event, we are holding three separate non-residential events in Ullapool, Dingwall, and Tain.
Our Youth Fèis will take place from Monday 3rd April to Thursday 6th April and is open to young people from Primary 4 through to Secondary 6.
We have an amazing team of tutors at each of the three sites this Easter; and all info about workshops, venues, and booking can be found on the following tabs on this site.
We are also putting on a community ceilidh in each location: Tuesday at the Duthac Centre, Tain, followed by Wednesday at the Ullapool Village Hall, and Thursday in Dingwall Town Hall. These events will be open to participants and their families as well as the wider community, and will be a chance for you to hear your tutors in concert.
For participants from Tain and Ullapool who are able to travel to Dingwall, this will also be a chance to perform what you learned over the week. More info about these events coming soon.
PRICES & BOOKING
To book your place, head over to the tabs on this page for Tain, Dingwall, or Ullapool where you will find the link to our booking page!
We have changed the format of these events to make them more affordable for families, and to reduce the financial risk to Fèis Rois in running these events at this time. Without the additional costs associated with running a fully residential event, we can make this week a “pay what you can” event.
You will see four payment options, starting with “I can’t afford to pay anything and would like a free place.” If you are able to pay more, then you will have the options to pay £50, £75, or £100. £100 represents a contribution of £25 a day for tuition from 10am-3.30pm.
We understand that some people will not be able to pay towards these places. We want every child to be able to access this opportunity, and you can choose your payment option at your own discretion.
If you encounter any issues in booking your place, please email Christian at christian.gamauf@feisrois.org who will be able to assist you.
Please note that from 16th to 20th October 2023, we will run a fully residential Fèis in Ullapool in the same format as you are all used to, and we have frozen the fees at the same level as 2022. This event will also be open to all young people from P4 up to S6. We will run parallel timetables so that P4-7 are together, S2-6 are together and S1 can choose who to join. They will have different social activities, meal times and stay in accommodation with young people who are the same age and gender. And yes – this means that your children can have two Fèis Rois experiences in 2023 instead of one!
All of our tutors are experienced, professional musicians, skilled in working with young people. We also have a pool of supervisors and volunteers who help our events run smoothly. Young people are supervised at all times and we work in accordance with Child Protection and Health & Safety Guidelines. Our staff are all members of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland.
We are committed to making traditional music accessible to all to eliminate barriers for participation. If you would like to talk in confidence about support for learners with disabilities or specific access requirements for your child, please contact Fiona or let us know in the booking form.
I have been 3 times and it gets better every time!
2019 participant
We are very much looking forward to a fun-filled week of Gaelic, music, song, drama and art! Here are some key details for registered participants. Please note that this event is non-residential and runs from Monday to Thursday (not Friday, as in previous years).
Drop-off and pick-up each day
This is a non-residential event so participants will need to be dropped off and picked up each day. Primary school children must be signed in by a parent or guardian in the morning and signed out at the end of each day.
Young people in secondary school are allowed to arrive and leave by themselves but will still need to sign in and out.
Everyone should arrive between 9.45am and 10am each morning. Workshops finish at 3.30pm each day.
Fèis Rois staff will supervise all all participants and support with any difficulties that may arise during their time with us.
What to bring
You might want to bring the following things with you to the Fèis:
- A packed lunch each day. We are not providing substantial meals, but there will be fruits and biscuits, as well as diluting juice and water.
- A labelled music stand if you prefer learning with music rather than by ear
- A water bottle
- Something to write with and take any notes as you learn
We look forward to seeing you in Ullapool!
Leis gach deagh dhùrachd – with every good wish,
The Fèis Rois Team
Dingwall
Workshops will take place at Dingwall Community Centre.
The tutors are Mairearad Green, Liam Ross and Mike Vass and will be supported by Alasdair Paul.
P6-S6 who are already intermediate+ / advanced
Mornings (1st and 2nd choice) = Group Work with Mairearad
Afternoons (3rd and 4th choice) = Songs and Song arranging with Mike. This is open to both singers and instrumentalists and will focus on song arrangements as an ensemble.
P4-S2 who are not intermediate / advanced or who don’t already play choose one of the following:
1st choice: Complete beginner fiddle with Mike or Musical Maps (open to all, including beginners) with Liam
2nd choice: Improver fiddle with Mike or Beginner Ukulele with Liam
3rd choice: Complete Beginner Accordion with Mairearad, or Improver Guitar with Liam, or Beginner Guitar with Alasdair Paul
4th choice: Improver Accordion with Mairearad, or Complete Beginner Guitar with Liam, or Beginner Whistle with Alasdair Paul
TIMETABLE
10am – 10.30am Arrive and whole Fèis song
10.30am – 11.30am First choice
11.30am – 11.45am Break
11.45am – 12.45pm Second choice
12.45pm – 1.30pm Lunch
1.30pm – 2.30pm Third choice
2.30 – 2.45pm break
2.45pm – 3.30pm Fourth choice and end at 3.30pm
Tain
Workshops will take place at Duthac Centre.
The tutors are Chloë Bryce, Megan MacDonald and Kaitlin Ross, supported by Ruairidh Gollan.
P6-S6 who are already intermediate+ / advanced
Mornings (1st and 2nd choice) = group work with Megan
Afternoons (3rd and 4th choice) = songs and song arranging with Chloë. This is open to both singers and instrumentalists and will focus on song arrangements as an ensemble.
P4-S2 who are not intermediate / advanced or who don’t already play choose one of the following:
1st choice: Beginner Fiddle with Chloë or Improver Guitar with Kaitlin
2nd choice: Beginner guitar with Kaitlin or improver fiddle with Chloë
3rd choice: Beginner accordion with Megan or Gaelic Song with Kaitlin
4th choice: Beginning to Play Together with Megan and Kaitlin
TIMETABLE
10am – 10.30am Arrive and whole Fèis song
10.30am – 11.30am First choice
11.30am – 11.45am Break
11.45am – 12.45pm Second choice
12.45pm – 1.30pm Lunch
1.30pm – 2.30pm Third choice
2.30 – 2.45pm break
2.45pm – 3.30pm Fourth choice and end at 3.30pm
Ullapool
Workshops will take place at the Macphail Centre.
The tutors are Artair Donald, Kim Richards, Sally Simpson and Anne Wood.
P6-S6 who are already intermediate+ / advanced
Mornings (1st and 2nd choice): Group Work with Sally and Anne
Afternoons (3rd and 4th choice): Song Arranging with Kim. This is open to both singers and instrumentalists and will focus on song arrangements as an ensemble.
P4-S2 who are not intermediate / advanced or who don’t already play choose one of the following
Mornings: Drama with Artair (Gaelic-medium only) or Ukulele and Whistle with Kim
Afternoons: Drama with Artair (Gaelic-medium only) or Intro to Strings / Beginner fiddle with Anne and Sally
TIMETABLE
10am – 10.30am Arrive and whole Fèis song
10.30am – 11.30am First choice
11.30am – 11.45am Break
11.45am – 12.45pm First Choice cont’d.
12.45pm – 1.30pm Lunch
1.30pm – 2.30pm Second choice
2.30 – 2.45pm break
2.45pm – 3.30pm – Second choice cont’d and end at 3.30pm
