Young Highlands and Islands songwriters offered free workshop opportunity, thanks to memorial fund for Inverness musician
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Acclaimed Scottish singer Yvonne Lyon will help young Highland musicians hone their own songwriting skills in a series of free workshops supported by the Liam Colgan Music Fund.
Open to all young musicians in the Highlands and Islands aged 18 to 30 years, the workshops are a combination of group and one-to-one sessions.
These will be led by Ms Lyon, who has released 10 solo album recordings, most recently Growing Wild, and recently completed a Masters Degree in songwriting and performance from the University of the West of Scotland. She has also guested on two live sessions with Bob Harris on his BBC Radio 2 show and performed and supported artists including Eddi Reader, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Patti Griffin, Karine Polwart, and Karen Matheson.
The online sessions, which begin on Saturday, November 13, will be packed full of useful material to inspire and encourage songwriting creativity and improve skills.
Young musicians can apply as workshop participants or observers. Participants will have the opportunity to try out songwriting techniques during the initial workshop and will receive support and feedback from Ms Lyon in a one-to-one session.
Participants will also be given free access to Spotify’s online studio, Soundtrap, for 12 months. This easy-to-use online platform creates an opportunity for songwriters to collaborate and enhance their music-making capabilities.
Yvonne Lyon said: “I can't wait to connect with the young musicians and writers who sign up for the workshops. I'm looking forward to helping them bring their song sparks, ideas and songs they didn't even know they had in them, out into the world that needs them.”
The Liam Colgan Music Fund was created in 2019 in memory of Inverness musician Liam Colgan, who died on a visit to Hamburg in early 2018.
Fund chairman Iain Clark said: “Observers will have the opportunity to watch the participants at work before trying out the techniques for themselves.
“This is a great opportunity for those hoping to improve their songwriting skills or for aspiring songwriters keen to get started or develop their skills. Places for these free workshops are allocated on a first come, first served basis and we’re delighted that someone of Yvonne’s calibre has agreed to work with us.”
More details about the workshops and how to apply are available on the LCMF website www.liamcolganmusicfund.com/songwritingworkshops2021 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/liamcolganmusicfund
