Youth Fèis (April)
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Easter event in 2024. We will deliver this event again from 7th to 10th April 2025.
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 the National Hotel in Dingwall. 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. More information about the ceilidhs can be found in the tab above.
PRICES & BOOKING
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, £100, or the maximum of £125. £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.
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
We are delighted to welcome Amy Henderson, Peter MacPherson, Irene Fraser, and TJ Bawden to teach in Dingwall.
Workshops will take place at Dingwall Community Centre. Every child gets to choose four different activities, i.e. one from 1st Choice, one from 2nd Choice, and so on. The class choices are as follows:
1st Choice
Music Games (Primary) with Amy
Keyboard (Primary beginner/ improver) with Peter
Fiddle (Seniors intermediate+) with Irene
Guitar (Beginner/Improver – All Ages) with TJ
2nd Choice
Come and try accordion (Primary) with Amy
Keyboard (Primary beginner/ improver) with Peter
Music Games (Primary) with Irene
Song arranging (Seniors) with TJ
3rd Choice
Step dance (all ages) with Amy
Music Games (Primary) with Peter
Come and try fiddle (Primary) with Irene
Song writing (Seniors) with TJ
4th Choice:
Accordion (all ages – Improvers+) with Amy
Gaelic song (open to all) with Peter
Fiddle (Primary – improvers) with Irene
Song writing (Seniors) with TJ
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
We are delighted to welcome Fraya Thomsen, Ruairidh Gollan, Carrie Forbes, and Arthur Donald to teach in Tain.
Please note: Tain is now fully booked. We still have places available at the event in Dingwall, please see the above tabs for more info.
Workshops will take place at Duthac Centre. Every child gets to choose four different activities, i.e. one from 1st Choice, one from 2nd Choice, and so on. The class choices are as follows:
1st Choice:
Come and try clarsach (Open to all ages) with Freya
Groupwork (Seniors) with Ruairidh
Gaelic Song (Open to all) with Carrie
Drama (Primary – GME-only) with Arthur
2nd Choice
Groupwork (Primary who are already comfortable on their instrument) with Freya
Group work (Seniors) with Ruairidh
Musical Games (Primary) with Carrie
Drama (Primary – Open to all) with Arthur
3rd Choice:
Group work (Seniors) with Freya
Accordion come and try (all ages) with Ruairidh
Gaelic song (open to all) with Carrie
Screenwriting / Intro to film making (Open to all ages) with Arthur
4th Choice:
Group work (Seniors) with Freya
Fiddle (Primary – Intermediate+) with Ruairidh
Come and try ukulele (Open to all) with Carrie
Screenwriting / Intro to film making (Open to all ages) with Arthur
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
We are delighted to welcome Mike Vass, Kim Richards, Rory Matheson, and Sophie Stephenson to teach in Ullapool.
Workshops will take place at Macphail Centre. Every child gets to choose four different activities, i.e. one from 1st Choice, one from 2nd Choice, and so on. The class choices are as follows:
1st Choice
Keyboard (Senior – Beginner) with Rory
Ukulele (Primary – Beginner) with Kim
Group work (Seniors) with Mike
Step dance (Open to all) with Sophie
2nd Choice
Keyboard (Primary – Beginner) with Rory
Tin whistle (Primary – Beginner) with Kim
Group work (Seniors) with Mike
Step dance (Open to all) with Sophie
3rd Choice
Group work (Seniors) with Rory
Ukulele (Senior – Beginner) with Kim
Music Games (Primary) with Mike
Come and try tin whistle (all ages) with Sophie
4th Choice
Accordion (All ages – Improving Beginner+) with Rory
Song arranging (All ages – Intermediate+) with Kim
Fiddle (All ages – Intermediate+) with Mike
Come and try guitar (All ages) with Sophie
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
As part of this year’s Easter Fèis week there will be three community ceilidhs, open to participants and to members of the public – everyone is warmly invited, entry is free. It is a great opportunity to hear our tutors for the week in concert, as well as take part in some ceilidh dancing!
Tuesday 2nd April, 7pm, Duthac Centre, Tain,
Wednesday 3rd April, 7pm, Ullapool Village Hall
Thursday 4th April, 7pm, National Hotel, Dingwall.