Fèis Alba 2006, a high quality training opportunity for young musicians, organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, is currently taking place. It aims to give young people aged 16-25 the opportunity to learn more about a range of key skills that will be of use to them as they develop their skills as aspiring semi or fully professional musicians. The Fèis is funded by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the Scottish Arts Council, The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The Fèis is taking place in Plockton High School Hostel. The hostel and the facilities at Sgoil-chiùil na Gaidhealtachd, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music School of Excellence in Plockton, provide an ideal venue for the event and participants will benefit from expert tuition from a number of well-known traditional musicians including Ingrid Henderson, Julie Fowlis and Donald Shaw of Capercaillie. As Lauren Tait of the Lochaber Cèilidh Trail says, "It's a good chance to get to know everyone involved in the Cèilidh Trails over the course of the week, and to get an intense week of rehearsals to get ready for the summer. The visiting tutors' classes are useful as well as they contribute to our overall development as musicians".

This year Cèilidh Trail participants from Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber are attending the Fèis before heading out and about to perform in their local areas. The aim of the Cèilidh Trails is to offer employment and professional development opportunities to local young musicians and work with local organisations and businesses to develop the cultural tourism potential of the area.

The Cèilidh Trails will extend into September when participants will have an opportunity to participate in the highly successful Blas festival, which features forty-three separate events taking place in seven areas. Blas showcases the best of Highland music, and will see Fèis Alba participants taking stage alongside well-known acts, including Capercaillie.

Blas Project Manager Donna Cunningham visited Fèis Alba to offer advice to participants aiming to work professionally as traditional musicians. Donna said, "I thoroughly enjoyed giving a presentation to the young people at Fèis Alba. It's clear that their skills will be finely honed in this excellent opportunity provided to them.”

Following Fèis Alba the Cèilidh Trails will visit various venues and events throughout Skye & Lochalsh and Lochaber. For more information please contact ceilear@btinetrnet.com  or lochaberceilidhtrail@feisean.org  or visit the Fèisean nan Gàidheal website - www.feisean.org 

Cuairtean Ceòlmhor fa-near do chom-pàirtichean Fhèis Alba 2006


Tha Fèis Alba, cothrom trèanaidh do luchd-ciùil òga adhartach air a cumail an-dràsta. Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Buidheann Nàiseanta nam Fèisean a’ cur na seachdain air dòigh. Tha an Fhèis a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine òga aois 16-25 sgilean cudromach a leasachadh a nì feum dhaibh mar luchd-ciùil pàirt ùine no proifeiseanta. Tha i air a maoineachadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Comhairle nan Ealan, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Iomairt na Gaidhealtachd.

Tha an Fhèis a’ dol air adhart a-rithist am bliadhna ann an Ostail Àrd Sgoil a’ Phluic. Tha an t-ostail agus na goireasan aig Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd air leth freagarrach, agus bidh luchd–ciùil traidiseanta ainmeil gan teagasg le Ingrid NicEanraig, Julie Fowlis agus Dòmhnall Seadhach bho Chapercaillie nam measg. Mar a thuirt Lauren Tait, bho Chuairt nan Cèilidhean ann an Loch Abar, "'S e cothrom air leth a tha seo eòlas a chur air a h-uile duine a tha an sàs ann an Cuairtean nan Cèilidhean tron t-seachdain, agus seachdain thrang de dheasachadh a dhèanamh gus faighinn deiseil airson an t-samhraidh. Tha na clasaichean foirmeil gu math feumail cuideachd oir bidh iad gar cuideachadh ann a bhith a' cur gleans air na sgilean a th' againn mar-thà".

Am bliadhna, tha an fheadhainn òga às an Eilean Sgitheanach, Loch Aillse agus Loch Abar a tha a’ gabhail pàirt ann an Cuairt nan Cèilidhean a’ frithealadh na Fèise mus tèid iad a-mach air chuairt anns na sgìrean ionadail aca fhèin. ‘S e an t-amas air cùl Cuairt nan Cèilidhean gu bheil i a’ toirt cothrom cosnaidh agus leasachadh proifeiseanta do luchd-ciùil òga às an sgìre nan dreuchd. Tha iad cuideachd ag obair le buidhnean gnìomhachais agus buidhnean ionadail eile gus piseach a thoirt air turasachd chultarail an àite.

Bidh Cuairtean nan Cèilidhean a’ leantainn dhan t-Sultain, nuair a bhios cothrom aig com-pàirtichean a bhith an sàs ann am Blas, an fhèis-chiùil air leth soirbheachail a bhios a' ruith bho 1 gu 9 Sultain, le 43 tachartasan a' gabhail àite ann an 9 sgìrean. Bidh Blas a' taisbeanadh an luchd-ciùil agus nan seinneadairean as fheàrr ann an ceòl na Gaidhealtachd, le com-pàirtichean Fhèis Alba a' nochdadh air an àrd-ùrlar còmhla ri seann-eòlaichean, Capercaillie nam measg.

Bha Donna Choineagan, Manaidsear Pròiseict Blas, a' tadhal air Fèis Alba gus comhairle agus stiùireadh a thoirt seachad do chom-pàirtichean a tha an dùil a bhith ag obair mar luchd-ciùil proifeiseanta. "Bha mi glè thoilichte a' toirt seachad òraid dha na daoine òga aig Fèis Alba. Tha e follaiseach gu bheil an Fhèis a' toirt cothrom air leth dhaibh na sgilean aca a leasachadh agus a leudachadh."

An dèidh Fèis Alba, bidh Cuairt nan Cèilidhean a’ tadhal air diofar àitean is aig tachartasan sònraichte thall sa bhos air feadh an Eilein Sgitheanaich, Loch Aillse agus Loch Abar. Gheibhear barrachd fiosrachaidh air ceilear@btinternet.com  no lochaberceilidhtrail@feisean.org  no làrach-lìn Fèisean nan Gàidheal –- www.feisean.org