Fife musicians hit the right note to make awards shortlist

Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society is the only Scottish outfit to make the shortlists and members are eagerly awaiting the virtual awards night on Tuesday, September 8.

Graeme Wilson, musical director and conductor, is very proud of the society’s achievements.

He said: “For many years, Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society has led the way in developing its community-based music making activities.

“In addition to seven public performances each season, the orchestra has developed work over a long period of time which embraces contemporary music, open/repertoire rehearsals, schools composition projects and youth-based work with its own youth orchestra-type activities, all in addition to its weekly work and termly concerts.

“Membership is not restricted to Fife: several players come from further afield.

“It regularly promotes world premiere performances and the successes in these shortlistings are now due recognition of the work supported by and carried out by the orchestra.”KOS recently suffered like many similar groups with the cancellation of its performances in March this year and the remainder of its season’s programme. The two awards categories showcased work from earlier in the season.

The first category is Best Music Creator. Last year Dunfermline-based composer and KOS member John Gourlay wrote a concerto for an entire Fife family to play with the orchestra.

The Randalls family from Glenrothes have all been connected with the orchestra at various times and John was delighted to write something special for Phil, April, Eilidh, Chloe and Rosie.

The balance of instruments – oboe, two violas, cello and tuba – was quite tricky, but the Concerto di Famiglia was successfully performed at the orchestra’s first concert of the season last October.

Meanwhile KOS was also shortlisted for Best New Music Project.

Since 2014, KOS has run the Schools Composition Project and it is the 2019 project that has been shortlisted.

The 2019 project, led by John Gourlay, includes the work undertaken with S3 pupils at St Columba’s RC High School, Dunfermline in the autumn of 2019, and the earlier part of the year at The Waid Academy and Dunfermline High School. There is also reference to a work by the then Madras College student composer Isobel Grieve when the project ran there. Her Paragon of Vice was given a full KOS performance in 2019 and was included in the award submission.

The awards event will be hosted on Zoom.