Macmath: The Silent Page commissioned by the Dumfries and Galloway Arts
Festival, has been nominated for the prestigious Community Project of the Year
category of the Scots Trad Music Awards.
Also festival director Peter Renwick, is in the running for a Scots Trad Music Awards, under community project of the Year,
Macmath: The Silent Page brought together the combined musical talents of Emily
Smith, Thornhill; Robyn Stapleton, Stranraer; Ali Burns, Kirkcudbright: Jamie McClennan, Thornhill; Aaron Jones, Beattock; Claire Mann, Beattock; and Wendy Stewart, Moniaive who restored the songs collected from Galloway singers in the late 1900s by William Macmath of the Glenkens.
This ground-breaking piece has local, national and international resonance it was
premiered at the Ryan Centre, Stranraer in May and has also been performed at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries and Broughton House, Kirkcudbright. It was certainly
one of the highlights of the 2015 Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival.
The project not only showcased the exceptional musicianship found in Dumfries
and Galloway but also brought to life a hidden archive of Scots songs, some of
which had never been sung or heard in living memory. The project was three years
in the making and was researched and led by local musician and composer, Alison
Burns.
Festival chair, Ken Gouge, said: “I am delighted that Macmath: The Silent Page is
receiving such national recognition.
“It was conceived and commissioned by the arts festival in conjunction with Ali
Burns over three years ago and it was a pleasure for me to see it performed so
successfully across our region in May.
“I know it will be well received when it goes out to other parts of Scotland in the
near future.”
The Scots Trad Awards aims to highlight Scotland’s rich heritage of traditional and
to create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the
spotlight.
Anyone can vote by visiting http://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/voting/
The results of the awards will be announced at a gala concert on 5 December at
Dundee Caird Hall.
Festival director Peter has been programming and promoting festival events since
February 2009.
During that time he has seen the festival grow to support twice as many events as
when he first arrived and helped to expand the programme right across the full
length and breadth of the region.
“As well as extending the geographical area of the festival, we are now attracting
a wider range of people to our performances,” Peter said, “and we have a remit
that is as much about promoting venues and performers from the region as it is
bringing quality performing arts to as many people as possible, including those who
live in the more remote parts of Dumfries and Galloway.
“We have supported some massive projects, including Big Man Walking; Life, Love
and Liberty; and, more recently, Macmath: The Silent Page which were all very
well received.
“We have also targeted our programme towards involving and promoting young
people, which has proved very successful.”
Peter is also responsible for attracting a broad base of funders to the festival.
He said of his nomination: “I am really chuffed to be in the running for community champion in this year’s Dumfries and Galloway Life Awards.
“Dumfries and Galloway has a really creative community, it is great to be part of that. It is so good to see the festival’s work being recognised. “I really am very delighted.”
Ken added: “Everyone connected with the arts festival is delighted that Peter’s
hard work and creativity has been recognised in this way.
“In particular, the way in which he has established positive relationships with a
wide variety of new partners and extended a much broader range of opportunities
for young people across the region is exemplary.
“We hope he gets the recognition he deserves by winning this award.”
The DG Life Awards ceremony takes place at the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on
Friday, 20 November, when the winners will be announced.
