North and South meet for fiddle spectacular

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 9:19pm

Fiddle and violin players from across the South West are invited to an exciting day of music-making led by expert tutors in Okehampton.

The Wren Music Fiddle Day on Saturday 25th June is a chance for experienced players and complete beginners to develop their playing and their knowledge of the instrument.

The day focuses on learning new skills and techniques as well as repertoire development, with a chance for other acoustic instruments to join in the afternoon.

This year's tutors are world-renowned fiddle player Tom McConville and Wren Music tutor Becki Driscoll.

Winner of the BBC Folk Musician of the Year in 2009, Tom is truly the most original fiddle player in the UK. Blending traditional music from his home town of Newcastle with Irish, American and Scottish influences, he creates a sound that has jazz, folk, bluegrass and classical influence.

Tom’s workshops will look at tunes and techniques from the North of England.

Becki will run workshops suitable for beginners focussing on basic technique and learning simple tunes. There will be something for everyone to play. Instruments can be loaned to complete beginners, but please book these in advance from Wren Music.

The afternoon workshops will be opened to all other acoustic instrument players to create a massed folk orchestra, using repertoire from the far North to the deep South West of England

In the evening, the tutors will give a concert at Fairplace Church in Okehampton, a beautiful venue with wonderful acoustics. This concert will feature Tom as a show-stopping solo artist.

Becki will be joined by fellow fiddle player Nick Wyke to form their hugely popular duo. The concert will also feature the debut performance of the Fiddle Orchestra of Devon, a fabulous new group run by Wren Music.

This annual event, now in its 8th year, has brought internationally recognised fiddle players and tutors to the heart of Devon. Event organiser Becki Driscoll of Wren Music says: "This day really has something for everyone. Even if you've never played before, you can come along and try it out. You don't need to be able to read music, but we will provide sheet music. And the best bit is: you get to spend all day playing the fiddle!"

The Wren Fiddle Day is a great day out for anyone with an interest in fiddle music in particular or folk music in general, and will send you home with new skills and a great sense of achievement and fun!

www.wrenmusic.co.uk

The Wren Fiddle Day 2016
Fairplace Church Hall, Okehampton EX20 1DT
Saturday 25th June
Morning fiddle workshops - 10am -1pm
Afternoon all-instrument workshops 2pm - 5pm
Evening concert 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Tickets:

All-day including concert £30/£20 conc.
Morning workshop- £15/£10 conc.
Afternoon workshop- £15/£10 conc.
Saturday concert only £7/£5 conc. (Tom McConville / Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll / Fiddle Orchestra)

Tickets available online from www.wrenfiddleday2016.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information, email: becki@wrenmusic.co.uk or phone: 01837 53754

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