Shetland Arts have announced that Eunice Henderson and Claire White will take the helm as curators of Fiddle Frenzy for the next 3 year term, 2016 - 2018. They will follow in the footsteps of sisters Jenna & Bethany Reid who have curated since 2013. Heading into its 13th year in 2016, Fiddle Frenzy takes place in the first week of August each year, teaching traditional Shetland fiddle. Since its inception the festival has grown to accommodate 100 students per year, both from within Shetland and around the globe, and incorporates a varied programme of fiddle & guitar workshops, as well as a ‘creative fringe’ programme. Workshops are accompanied by evening concerts for students and the public.
Both Eunice and Claire are all ready well-kent faces on the Fiddle Frenzy scene, having worked as tutors at a number of festivals over the years. Eunice is a pupil of the late Tom Anderson and is a well known player in the islands, having taught traditional fiddle in Shetland schools since 1991. She is known for enthusiasm, encouragement and relentless work with young fiddle players, bringing together groups such as the South Mainland Young Fiddlers who have performed both locally and outwith Shetland to great acclaim. Eunice has also taught for a number of years at the annual Orkney Traditional Music Project, with a focus on Shetland and Norwegian fiddle tunes.
Eunice says “I am very pleased to have been invited to co-curate Fiddle Frenzy for the next three years together with Claire. I have taught traditional fiddle in Shetland schools for 24 years, a role which I enjoy immensely. I feel that I have achieved considerable success over the years as so of my students have been award winners and my young fiddlers are always in demand at numerous local events. I am looking forward to bringing my experience and knowledge to the Frenzy.”
Claire is an award-winning singer-songwriter and Shetland fiddler who has been touring internationally for over twenty years. Also a pupil of the late Dr Tom Anderson, she currently performs with fiddle and concertina duo Blyde Lasses and popular Aberdeen-based ceilidh bands Danse McCabre and Jingbang. By day, she works as a BBC Development Producer on all manner of creative projects, from music documentaries to Commonwealth Games short films.
Claire says “I'm very excited about co-curating Fiddle Frenzy 2016-2018 with Eunice Henderson. It's been a pleasure and privilege to tutor, perform and compere for the past two years, and it'll be great to extend that experience by designing a whole week of Shetland culture for attendees. Jenna and Bethany Reid are a very hard act to follow, but we hope to do them proud by continuing to build this already successful Shetland Arts brand.”
Shetland Arts’ Lynda Anderson says “We are delighted to have Eunice & Claire with us for the next 3 years.They both hold very strong connections to and great enthusiasm for the history of Shetland traditional fiddle, which is a central component of the Fiddle Frenzy week, and we very much look forward to working with them. We would like also to take this opportunity to say a huge thanks to Jenna & Bethany Reid who have so successfully steered the week for the past 3 years.”
