Young Shetlanders at the Proms
A PACKED ROYAL Albert Hall enjoyed the playing of two young Shetland musicians as part of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland’s performance at the BBC Proms, on Sunday night.
Sophie Rocks, from Brae, and Maggie Adamson, from Gulberwick, played the harp and violin with the orchestra to around 5,000 people in a program centred on new works by Scottish composers James MacMillan and Thea Musgave and Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy.
Speaking afterwards 17 year old Ms Rocks said: “It was an amazing experience. Adrenaline really kicks in when you’re playing to such big audiences.”
Well known as a traditional Shetland fiddle player, Maggie Adamson added that playing in the Royal Albert Hall was a completely new experience.
“It is kind of a goal. To be able to get a chance to play in that hall at my age is just fantastic. There were 5,000 people in the audience and it was some atmosphere; brilliant!”
In a further Shetland connection, celebrated Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti chose the late Willie Hunter’s Leaving Lerwick Harbour as her encore which she played in duet with the first violin and leader of the NYOS Daniel Rainey.
Sophie’s parents, Busta House Hotel owners Joe and Veronica Rocks, said the piece sparked a lot of talk among the audience during the interval.
Mrs Rocks said they as well as Shetland fiddle tutor Alan Gifford and his wife were on hand to explain its origins.
Their performance is available to listen to online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01lhj5t
Both Shetland musicians will continue their studies in music this year – Adamson at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in Glasgow and Rocks at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester.
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