HOGMANAY CONCERT

For the fourth year running now, I am heading to Kirkwall’s St Magnus Cathedral this Hogmanay to give the people of Orkney, plus seasonal visitors alike, another special Hogmanay Concert.

I’m so chuffed at how popular this concert has become this last few years, the atmosphere has been really really magical, so I simply had to come back again and I’m really looking forward to catching up with folk and celebrating Hogmanay together again. It’s so nice to see folk of all ages, including young families, enjoying our music in such wonderful surroundings

I will once again be joined at the piano by fellow Orcadian Laurence Wilson.  It’s an incredible privilege to have him play the St Magnus Festival’s Steinway, in St. Magnus Cathedral. 

We’re absolutely blown away by the warm response we receive each year, and we’re really chuffed that this has become an annual event in the Orkney calendar. It would really be great if we had a full house again – It really is the perfect way to start the celebrations before the big night!

My ‘Reel Fiddlers’, a collection of local talented past and present music students of all ages, will form an accompanying ensemble for the performance and I will be hosting a special workshop earlier the same day from 11am as a rehearsal for the concert.  You can join them if you wish.  If you would like to take part in the workshop and appear in the concert, please click here https://jenniferwrigley.com/event/6170369/743505463/hogmanay-concert-workshop-with-jennifer-wrigley

The Hogmanay Concert is suitable for an all-ages audience and will begin at 2:30 in the afternoon of Tuesday 31st December. 

Admission is by donation and booking is not required.

PLUS, all concertgoers (over 18 years) will have the opportunity to enter my whisky prize draw thanks to a generous donation of three amazing prizes of a bottle of Highland Park Single Malt whisky and a pair of ‘Distillery Experience’ vouchers from event sponsors, Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky.  Prize draw tickets will be available to purchase on the door.

SORRY THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW SOLD OUT. This Hogmanay workshop at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney will act as a rehearsal for a special concert in the afternoon of the same day. Attendees of the workshop are invited to form an accompanying ensemble to perform alongside me. Participation in the concert is optional, however those wishing to play in the concert must attend the morning workshop.

We’ll practice all the tunes below with piano accompaniment and work on arrangements (decide on how many times through we play things etc).

• Hamish’s Tune and Caddam Woods • Peter Pratt’s Polka, Bergen Polka and Jimmy o’ the Bu’s Polka • Ae Fond Kiss & Ye Banks & Braes • Hector the Hero & Ernie’s Tune • Dingieshowe Dancers • Skye Boat Song & Mhairi’s Wedding • Boys of Bluehill & Barn Dance • Auld Lang Syne and No Awa to Bide Awa • Spaelimenninir i Hoydolum

To book your place, click ‘add to cart’ below. If you wish to book more than one place you can increase the quantity in the cart before you checkout. Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive an email from me with further information and instructions, plus a download link for the relevant sheet music. Please note that music will not be provided on the day, so you’ll need to bring your own copies and your own music stand with you.

Jennifer and Laurence perform a small set to help Len Wilson (Laurence's father) celebrate his new book as part of the Orkney International Science Festival events.

With a long seagoing tradition in his family and the island of Graemsay where they came from, it’s not surprising that by the time that Len Wilson reached the age of three he was sitting at the tiller of his father’s boat. And by the time he was sixteen he was at nautical college learning about radio, radar and Morse code, on the way to becoming a radio officer. His first ship was the passenger liner Orion, where duties included dining with the passengers in cummerbund and dinner jacket; and also typing up radio reports on the day’s news, according to the passengers’ priorities – “the cricket scores, football results and the stock market, in that order.”

Then came a varied mix of ships and events – on steamers with cargoes for Iran and Venezuela and West Africa, tankers with oil for the East, a Greek ship loading coal in Communist Poland for Karachi; and a stand-off on a journey to Murmansk when the Cold War was at its height.

He’s now set it down in a book, and shares this evening some of the stories of people and places and adventures along the way. He has stories too of seafaring ancestors, among them his great-grandfather James Wilson who made his first trip to the Davis Straits in 1867 on the famous old whaler Truelove of Hull.

With the family tradition also including music, his son Laurence joins for a tune or two, accompanying the fiddle music of Jennifer Wrigley.

Michael Biggins and Jennifer Wrigley in concert - both outstanding musicians... promises to be a superb night! 🎹🎻😀 Fri 01st Aug, King Street Halls… tickets on sale now.

SORRY SOLD OUT This informal 'club' performance is part of the St Magnus International Festival. Multi-award winning Jennifer Wrigley is one of Orkney’s finest fiddle players and composers. Her long career has seen her perform all over the world and made her an ambassador for Orkney music over decades and a respected teacher of traditional fiddle.

First fortnightly Fiddle Academy of the year. 2025 dates (Term 3:)

Sat 11th & 25th Jan  Sat 8th & 22st Feb Sat 8th & 22nd Mar Sat 5th & 19th Apr Sat 3rd, 17th & 31st May  Sat 14th & 28th Jun  

Visit: https://jenniferwrigley.com/fiddle-academy for more information

For the third year running now, I am heading to Kirkwall’s St Magnus Cathedral this Hogmanay to give the people of Orkney, plus seasonal visitors alike, another special Hogmanay Concert.

I’m so chuffed at how popular this concert has been the last two years, the atmosphere has been really really magical, so I simply had to come back again and I’m really looking forward to catching up with folk and celebrating Hogmanay together again. It’s so nice to see folk of all ages, including young families, enjoying our music in such wonderful surroundings I will once again be joined at the piano by fellow Orcadian Laurence Wilson. It’s an incredible privilege to have him play the St Magnus Festival’s Steinway, in St. Magnus Cathedral.

We’re absolutely blown away by the warm response we receive each year, and we’re really chuffed that this has become an annual event in the Orkney calendar. It would really be great if we had a full house again – It really is the perfect way to start the celebrations before the big night!

My ‘Reel Fiddlers’, a collection of local talented past and present music students of all ages, will form an accompanying ensemble for the performance and I will be hosting a special workshop earlier the same day from 11am as a rehearsal for the concert. You can join them is you wish. If you would like to take part in the workshop and appear in the concert, please click here: https://jenniferwrigley.com/event/5336640/704348273/hogmanay-concert-workshop-with-jennifer-wrigley

The Hogmanay Concert is suitable for an all-ages audience and will begin at 2:30 in the afternoon of Tuesday 31st December.
Admission is free and booking is not required, though there will be a retiring collection after the performance.

PLUS, all concertgoers will be offered a free peedie taster dram to takeaway, along with a free souvenir whisky glass, thanks to a generous donation from event sponsors, Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

This Hogmanay workshop at The St Magnus Centre (note change of venue) will act as a rehearsal for a special concert in the afternoon of the same day at Kirkwall’s St. Magnus Cathedral here in Orkney. Attendees of workshop are invited to form an accompanying ensemble to perform alongside me. Participation in the concert is optional, however those wishing to play in the concert must attend the morning workshop.

We’ll practice all the tunes below with piano accompaniment and work on arrangements (decide on how many times through we play things etc).

SET LIST:

• Flett Fae Flotta and Gairsay • Old Polka & Maggie Watsons/Farewell to Blackhammer • Reach for the Slip • Starry Nights of Shetland, Ronasvoe, Sunset Over Foula and Da Isles O’ Gletness • Scapa Flow and The Deerness Reel • Mrs Jamieson’s Favourite • Egans Polka and John Ryans • Auld Lang Syne and No Awa to Bide Awa • Angus Macleod and The Thistle of Scotland

To book your place, click ‘add to cart’ below. If you wish to book more than one place you can increase the quantity in the cart before you checkout. Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive an email from me with further information and instructions, plus a download link for the relevant sheet music. Please note that music will not be provided on the day, so you’ll need to bring your own copies and your own music stand with you please.

In addition to the all year round one on one lessons and weekly Reel Fiddlers and UnReel Fiddlers online classes, I'm delighted to be announcing the dates of Term 2 in-person and online monthly Fiddle Academy Workshop/Classes from 2pm to 5.15pm. All ages and abilities welcome both online via Zoom and in person at the King Street Halls/Kirkwall East Church, 6 King St, Kirkwall KW15 1JF. Times are:

2pm - 3pm Beginners 3pm - 4pm Beginners/Intermediate 4.15pm - 5.15pm Intermediate/Advanced

2024 dates (Term 2:) Sat 24th Aug, Sat 7th & 21st Sep, Sat 5th Oct, Sat 2nd, 16th & 30th Nov, Sat 14th Dec

Price: £10 per person per class. Visit https://jenniferwrigley.com/fiddle-academy for more information.

In addition to the all year round one on one lessons and weekly Reel Fiddlers and UnReel Fiddlers online classes, I'm delighted to be announcing the dates of Term 2 in-person and online monthly Fiddle Academy Workshop/Classes from 2pm to 5.15pm. All ages and abilities welcome both online via Zoom and in person at the King Street Halls/Kirkwall East Church, 6 King St, Kirkwall KW15 1JF. Times are:

2pm - 3pm Beginners 3pm - 4pm Beginners/Intermediate 4.15pm - 5.15pm Intermediate/Advanced

2024 dates (Term 2:) Sat 24th Aug, Sat 7th & 21st Sep, Sat 5th Oct, Sat 2nd, 16th & 30th Nov, Sat 14th Dec

Price: £10 per person per class. Visit https://jenniferwrigley.com/new-fiddle-academy for more information.

In addition to the all year round one on one lessons and weekly Reel Fiddlers and UnReel Fiddlers online classes, I'm delighted to be announcing the dates of Term 2 in-person and online monthly Fiddle Academy Workshop/Classes from 2pm to 5.15pm. All ages and abilities welcome both online via Zoom and in person at the King Street Halls/Kirkwall East Church, 6 King St, Kirkwall KW15 1JF. Times are:

2pm - 3pm Beginners 3pm - 4pm Beginners/Intermediate 4.15pm - 5.15pm Intermediate/Advanced

2024 dates (Term 2:) Sat 24th Aug, Sat 7th & 21st Sep, Sat 5th Oct, Sat 2nd, 16th & 30th Nov, Sat 14th Dec

Price: £10 per person per class. Visit https://jenniferwrigley.com/new-fiddle-academy for more information.

BBC Radio Orkney Folk show with Jennifer Wrigley. Tune in monthly on the radio from 6pm to 7pm on Tuesdays or listen anytime on BBC Sounds

In addition to the all year round one on one lessons and weekly Reel Fiddlers and UnReel Fiddlers online classes, I'm delighted to be announcing the dates of Term 2 in-person and online monthly Fiddle Academy Workshop/Classes from 2pm to 5.15pm. All ages and abilities welcome both online via Zoom and in person at the King Street Halls/Kirkwall East Church, 6 King St, Kirkwall KW15 1JF. Times are:

2pm - 3pm Beginners 3pm - 4pm Beginners/Intermediate 4.15pm - 5.15pm Intermediate/Advanced

2024 dates (Term 2:) Sat 24th Aug, Sat 7th & 21st Sep, Sat 5th Oct, Sat 2nd, 16th & 30th Nov, Sat 14th Dec

Price: £10 per person per class. Visit https://jenniferwrigley.com/new-fiddle-academy for more information.

You are invited to join me live from Orkney this Friday (1st November 2024) at 7.30pm (UK time) for my brand new album and book launch party via YouTube Live Stream.

Buy the album and book now here https://jenniferwrigley.com/catch-the-rhythmic-orkney... and on all major streaming platforms.

All welcome, please share! I hope you can make it!

Jenny x

Monthly over 60s club - open to non members

Informal Saturday night traditional music session in the Hudson Bar, Royal Hotel, Stromness. The final session of the year in the Royal will be as part of the Orktober Fest.

Fortnightly Saturday Folk Session at the Hudson Bar, Royal Hotel, Stromness. All welcome

Jennifer Wrigleys Reel Fiddlers to entertain residents at local care home

Graemsay Harvest Home

Blide Trust Headspace Showcase. https://www.blidetrust.org.uk/events/g-1-4ls2p98kljj77qugjk9ao4j722_202410101800