Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra has completed a tour of the eastern coast of the United States of America, and brought back a special gift for the Provost to receive on behalf of the people of South Ayrshire.

Founded in 1982 the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra has steadily expanded and now has 130 violinists, cellists, bass players, accordionists and percussionist aged between 10 and 18.

The orchestra stage major concerts in Ayr at Christmas and at midsummer, and provide musical entertainment throughout the year at charity and corporate events.

South Ayrshire Council has supported the orchestra, and in return small groups of their musicians often play at Civic Receptions, and provide a series of ceilidhs in a number of rural communities.

During their United States tour the orchestra played in Newnan a ‘Sister City’ of Ayr, and Wallace Galbraith was asked to bring back a glass sculpture of a peach, which is the official fruit of Georgia, and present it to South Ayrshire Council.

Provost Gordon McKenzie accepted the sculpture at a small ceremony within the County Buildings and said: “I am delighted to be accepting this gift from the people of Newnan on behalf of the people of South Ayrshire, and thank our American friends for their generosity.

“The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra are great ambassadors for South Ayrshire and for Scotland. Their music seems to have been very well received, and I am sure that members of the orchestra have benefited from the experience of the tour.”

Pictured at the County Buildings at the presentation of the ‘glass peach’ are members of the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra (left to right), Alistair McCulloch, Lindsay Mathers, Wallace Galbraith, Provost Gordon McKenzie, Amy Connor, Jim Connor and Holly Blyth.

August 2005