Having recently celebrated their diamond jubilee, the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society proudly numbers more than 50 members, aged 8 to 80+, and are your hosts for the annual Orkney Folk Festival Fiddlers’ Rally.
In 1953, nine fiddle and accordion players got together to make music for their own pleasure, and now, sixty years later, the Society continues to welcome many more folk from all over the West Mainland of Orkney, and even Kirkwall, to do just that.
The Society’s current leader is Gina Dickinson, whilst Jean Leonard – former head of music at Stromness Academy – acts as “coach”, arranging and teaching new tunes, whilst also instructing the continually thriving junior sections, helping to secure the future of traditional music in Orkney.
Amidst their weekly rehearsals throughout the year, the Society also provides entertainment to various community associations throughout the isles, and has produced 2 CDs – The Orkney West Mainland Strathspey & Reel Society and Flavours of Orkney.