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More Musical Collaboration in 2008

Dunkeld & Birnam Live Arts (dabla) is collaborating with Music in Blair Atholl (MIBA) during this performance season.

For the last 17 years MIBA has held its annual  summer Chamber Music Festival at Strathgarry, Killiecrankie, in a small concert hall seating 100 people, under the artistic direction of the celebrated classical guitarist, Simon Wynberg. Many fine musicians from all over the world have taken part in these festivals, and in other concerts at Strathgarry, writes Sebastian Thewes.

With the sale of Strathgarry this February, an alternative venue was sought and found, with the assistance of dabla, and the 18th MIBA Chamber Music Festival will now take place at Dunkeld Cathedral on the evenings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 3/4/5 July, at 7.30pm.

Ticket prices are £15, and bookings and full information are available on the MIBA website, www.musicinblairatholl.com, or from MIBA, The Steading, Lude, Blair Atholl PH18 5TS Telephone 01796 481230 or from MIBA, Culdaremore House, Fortingall, Aberfeldy PH10 5TW Telephone 01887 830508. Please note that tickets are not sent out, but will be collected at the door on the night.

Once again, Simon Wynberg has assembled musicians of great talent and international standing. Three soloists from the English Chamber Orchestra return to take part in this Festival. They are Stephanie Gonley (violin), Annabelle Meare (violin) and Caroline Dale (cello). The distinguished oboist, John Anderson, returns, as of course does Simon. We will be delighted to welcome, for the first time, Carmen Flores (viola), Paul Edmund-Davies (flute) and Paul Turner (piano).

The programmes will include great piano works by Dvorak (Piano Quartet No. 1 in D major), Mozart (Piano Quartet in E flat major) and Brahms (Piano Trio in B major, opus 8). There will be music ranging from Matthew Arnold to J.S.Bach. This will be a musical feast, and the organisers are delighted that this feast will take place in the magnificent surroundings of Dunkeld Cathedral, with the opportunity for a larger audience than has been possible before.

At Strathgarry we were able to provide an optional dinner after the concerts. This is not possible at Dunkeld but Historic Scotland have kindly agreed to allow us to provide a marquee, where refreshments will be available, and which will provide cover in the event of rain. We suggest you bring your own picnic. Also, would you note that toilet facilities are limited, so please Go Before.

Other MIBA concerts will also now take place at The Steading, Lude and at Lude House, Blair Atholl. If you would like more information, please write to one of the addresses above or e-mail miba@strathgarry.com

Sebastian Thewes