RSNO oboe returns

TWO concerts this weekend will help cement Shetland’s new relationship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra following their successful tour of the isles in March.

RSNO principal oboe Katy MacKintosh is returning to Shetland to perform with her pianist father Graeme MacKintosh and Shetland fiddle players Maurice Henderson and Margaret Scollay.

The concerts will feature a mixture of Scottish traditional music inspired by the sea, with the MacKintosh’s playing works by James Scott Skinner and Niel Gow, followed by a selection of Shetland tunes from Scollay and Henderson.

The second half will feature a newly-composed work Spöndrift written especially for the performances during the oboe player’s return to Shetland.

“It’s great to be back in Shetland for my third visit,” she said.

“Margaret, Maurice and I had great fun on Unst last time, composing and performing new music, and I am very happy to have the opportunity of developing our musical relationship further.”

The first concert is on Friday at Busta House Hotel, Brae, at 7.30pm with a second at in Shetland Museum’s boat hall at the same time on Saturday. Tickets cost £8 (£5 concessions) from Shetland Box Office on 01595 745555 or www.shetlandboxoffice.org.