Another top Faroese choir are set to visit Shetland as part of a growing cultural exchange programme between the two islands groups being promoted as part of Shetland Arts Trust music development project.

‘Havnarkorid’, formerly known as the Torshavn Choir, will perform a one-off concert in Islesburgh Community Centre on Saturday the 21st May. The choir are one of Faroes longest established and most popular choirs, originally forming some forty years ago.

In addition to being highly regarded at home, the group have a well established international reputation, having visited other countries on around 20 different occasions. Perhaps their most notable trip outwith their native islands took place last year when they performed Mendelsohn-Bartholdy’s ‘Eliah’ to a packed audience in the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

Over the past 15 years ‘Havnarkorid’ have introduced performances of larger classical works to Faroe through collaborations with conductors such as Steen Lindholm from Denmark, Willy Gohl from Switzerland and Yakov Bergman from the United States.

For the Shetland visit their programme will include songs from the Nordic tradition and a broad selection of traditional Faroese songs and choral works, ranging from traditional Kingo-psalms to modern compositions. Among the latter will be works by internationally acclaimed Faroese composer Sunnleif Rasmussen who received the music prize from the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2003.

For the Lerwick concert support will come from local singer Andy Ross from Yell; singer / songwriter Donald Anderson, who will be promoting his new CD ‘Waterhead Sky’ and young Ness-based singer / songwriter Shannon Aitchison, who will be making her live performance debut at the event.

Shetland Arts Trust music development officer Davie Gardner said “We’re delighted to be hosting a choir of such international standing in Shetland, especially as they come from our neighbouring islands. We are currently seeking to strengthen cultural links between the islands through musical exchange programmes, and this concert will be just one of a number of events promoted in this respect to bring the two communities closer together”.

Later this year, as part of the same cultural exchange programme, year several young local fiddlers from the group ‘New Tradition’, led by fiddle tutor Bernadette Porter, will visit Faroe over a twelve day period to work with a number of high profile Faroese musicians and their musical students. While there, they will work together on a number of musical projects and collaborations and perform a number of concerts, both formal and informal, culminating in a joint performance at Nordic Hus in Torshaven. This particular event is also sponsored by Smyril Line.

Tickets for the concert in Islesburgh will be available on the door on the evening priced £5 and £3. Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7.30. Places are limited, and on a first come first served basis so you are advised to arrive early.

For further information contact Davie Gardner on (01595) 694001.