The doors of a cherished Moray landmark will be flung open for the first time today following a major refurbishment.
Dozens of children will hone their fiddle skills at the Fochabers Institute this week during a series of music workshops.
The classes are the first event in the building following an £800,000 project that resulted in it being shrouded in scaffolding and protective sheets for six months.
This year’s Fochabers Fiddle Week is the fifth time the lessons have been held in the Speyside village.
And instructor Mhairi Marwick, from Mosstodloch, believes the refurbished facilities will allow them to boost the reach of traditional Scottish music even further.
She said: “The hall is such a great place for the workshops and concerts. It was looking fantastic when I went in to see it – it will be a great thing for the community.
“Speyfest is obviously a brilliant festival for Fochabers but it’s just in July so we started holding gigs to continue the music for the rest of the year.
“Getting professional acts to the area is such an inspiration for young learners – that’s what inspired me.”
Work started on the crumbling Institute in October to secure its future as a theatre and music venue. Major repairs have been made to the stonework and roof.
Miss Marwick, who is now a professional musician in Glasgow, will be teaching classes at the workshop with Cullen performer Jack Smedley, who plays the fiddle in folk band Rura.
The duo will be joined by Adam Sutherland from Inverness and Lauren MacColl from Carrbridge in teaching the talent, which ranges from eight to 18 years old.
About 45 young fiddle players are expected to attend the classes, which will culminate in a concert in the Institute on Saturday.
The best youngsters from the workshops have also been booked as the support act for a gig at the Institute on Friday evening.
Miss Marwick added: “The whole week is to encourage more people to take an interest in traditional Scottish music, there’s such a wealth of talent in this area.
“Arranging the workshops and concerts together creates more opportunities for people and helps to keep the traditions going.”
