A thousand young people took to the stage to sing an inspiration Gaelic song during a celebration of young musicians in Inverness on Saturday.
They brought the Blas Festival to a stunning close in front of a packed audience at the Northern meeting park.
Their performance came at the end of a day of outstanding music and song that featured some of the biggest names in Scottish traditional music.
Gathered together for the festival showcase Oran Mor – which means Great (or Big) Song – were young musicians from Feisean and various youth initiatives from across Scotland including the Highland Council Youth Music Groups, the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music and City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band.
The audience was also treated to performances by Trail West, Mischa Macpherson, Brighde Chaimbeul, Breabach and Skipinnish – all of whom were selected to take part by the young musicians who so impressed on the day.
For many of those in the crowd, the highlight was undoubtedly the Year of Young People ensemble who performed a brand new Gaelic song written by up-and-coming young songwriter, Glasgow-based Gaelic student Robbie MacLeoid.
His song, Beo an Dochas (Living in Hope), was written specifically for Oran Mor and was sung by all the young people, under the musical direction of Donald Shaw and led by young Gaelic singer, Annia MacGillivray from Tain, who impressed with her beautiful voice.
Robbie MacLeoid said: “Writing this song for Oran Mor at this year’s Blas Festival has been an incredible experience and opportunity for me.
“It is fantastic to be involved in an event like this and I am very grateful to Feisean nan Gaidheal for all the support they’ve given me and the work they’ve done for Gaelic language and music over the last 30 years.
“It has been a wonderful day.”
The Blas Festival aims to celebrate Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene over nine days of concerts, ceilidhs and events in venues across the Highlands and Islands.
It opened on September 7 and during this year’s run has shhowcased talents such as Julie Fowlis, Wolfstone, Niteworks, Assynt, Alasdair Gillies and a new Gaelic song commission by Mischa Macpherson, BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner.
