June 2023: Transatlantic Treat!

May certainly finished with a bang!  The latest in our series of “Transatlantic Connections” was hosted by St Margaret’s Trustee, Fiona Kennedy and headlined by country star Suzy Bogguss and friends.  We were delighted to welcome back from Oklahoma Verlon Thompson and, together with Fiddler Paul Anderson and guitarist Nils Elders, they enthralled a capacity audience in one of the best concerts we have ever heard in Braemar.

Happily we now have our “new” storage container in place.  It’s not a thing of beauty but it is very functional and a team of volunteers was able to clear away all the furniture and ancillary equipment after the concert to prepare the nave for our next event, our Photography Exhibition.  

Entitled “Scenes and Seasons” it opens on Saturday 3 June and runs until Sunday 3 September.  The exhibition features many local photographers and celebrates the wonders of Braemar and Upper Deeside.  Many familiar names have contributed to the show:  Anke Addy, Lêo Amory, Magali Brat, Shaila Rao, Martin Bennie and Gail Nixon.

Sadly, although the breadth and quality of our programme of events continues to grow, the condition of the building is deteriorating faster than we had expected.  Together with our partner organisation, Historic Churches Scotland who owns St Margaret’s, we are trying to raise funds for emergency repairs to the tower.  Building costs have spiralled in recent years and we anticipate that the repair work may cost in the region of £1.2 million so we will soon be getting involved in a major fundraising campaign.

Next up in our concert programme will be the Earthtones Trio on Friday 23 June.  Described in The Scotsman as “a suitably uplifting counter-blast to these dismal times” they feature three musicians from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Euan Stevenson on piano, flautist Kathryn Bryan and cellist Betsy Taylor.  Stevenson’s original work is described as accessible and melodic, marrying classical, jazz and folk and cinematic influences.  They include in their repertoire light-hearted solo and duo interpretations of well known classical and jazz themes.

A night not to be missed!

Brian J Wood
Chair
St Margaret’s Trust Braemar