Workshop and Ball

Registration forms coming soon! Do YOU have the date marked in your calendar? 5th April 2025

Look for registration information as of 1st January 2025!

**Note that after 1st March 2025, registration cost will be $80: another incentive to register early!**

Workshop Teacher

Alan Twhigg will be the workshop teacher.

With Scottish heritage on both sides of his family, Alan developed a love for the traditional music at an early age. His parents danced with the Reel & Strathspey Club that preceded formation of the San Francisco Branch of the RSCDS and often took him to Highland Games and pipe-band concerts as a child.

Alan himself discovered Scottish Country Dancing as a university student, amongst other dance forms such as ballroom and international folk. The music resonated with some early memories, and the intricate patterns of SCD stood out from the other styles. He soon sought out a weekly class, then two…

Alan passed both of the RSCDS teaching exams at St. Andrews in the 1980s, and has been teaching regular weekly classes at various levels ever since. He has served as a guest instructor at weekend workshops across North America and tutored candidates for teaching exams. He also continues to participate in SCD performances, chiefly with the Red Thistle Dancers. Favorite memories include choreographing and performing a sword dance for the San Francisco Opera as well as teaching and performing in Norway, the Czech Republic, and Russia.

“SCD is a great activity for keeping body and mind engaged, for sociability, and for responding physically to the wealth and variety of music in the Scottish tradition. It has helped me connect with diverse people across the world and led to experiences and long-term friendships I never expected.”

Workshop Musician

Mary Ross will be the workshop musician.

Mary is a member of the Van Isle Scottish Country Dance Society and the RSCDS Vancouver Branch. She has enjoyed providing music for Scottish Country Dance events since 1991 and was honoured to receive the Bobby Brown Memorial Scholarship for TAC summer school, 2015 in Farmville, Virginia. Scottish music is a major part of Mary’s life, but she has also enjoyed 20 years as an Irish Feis musician and many years accompanying the Victoria Edelweis Shuhplattler dance group. Mary teaches from her home studio and technology has improved since covid days.

Facetime has become an excellent program for teaching students beyond our borders, even Mexico!! The Van Isle 2025 April workshop and Ball will be a very special event for me. I will be sharing the stage with personal friends and colleagues.

I have been an accompanist for the Greater Victoria Police Chorus since 2000 and during that time Janet Rendell became our pianist and moved on to be the musical director. Rehearsals are always a joy to participate in and the audiences always go home smiling and entertained.

Allyn Chard was my daughter Lila’s beloved Suzuki violin instructor, Kate Rhodes and I performed together at a surprise wedding party. Kate owned an accordion and had been looking for a teacher so an enjoyable connection continued. All these ladies are sharing their talents with you this evening as you showcase your dance skills and techniques learned during the workshop.

At the ball, three musicians will join Mary: Pianist Janet Rendell and Violinists Kate Rhodes and Allyn Chard.

Janet Rendell

Janet studied piano and conducting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. After receiving her education qualification, Janet went to the Orkney Island to teach music and become involved in the rich musical life there.

Ready for more adventure, Janet moved to Canada in 1981, living in Edmonton, Calgary and White Rock before moving to Victoria. Janet has always been involved in music professionally as accompanist, singer, conductor and piano teacher.

Janet is the music director of the Greater Victoria Police Chorus and the Maritime Museum of BC Salty Singers group.

She is delighted to be involved in this special event with the Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society

Kate Rhodes

Immersed in studying and performing classical violin, voice and piano since childhood, Kate has been a member of both the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras.

Since moving to Victoria, she has been an active freelance musician, performing with Victoria Symphony, Raven Baroque, Sooke Philharmonic, Victoria Chamber Orchestra,

as well as playing chamber music (often with Allyn). Kate enjoys exploring music traditions other than classical, and has delved into fiddle and accordion, has lead a mandolin orchestra and continues to perform with the folk/world music acoustic quartet Steluta.

Allyn Chard

A classically trained violinist and violin teacher, Allyn became enchanted with Scottish music after moving from Victoria, BC to Antigonish, NS where she spent many weekends attending competitions with her two Highland Dancing daughters.

Since returning to Victoria 20 years ago, she teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and in her home studio as well as playing in the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the Sooke Philharmonic.

Allyn first met Kate in Banff when they both played in the Canadian
Chamber Orchestra and their musical journeys have intersected many times since. Allyn is delighted to be playing with both Mary and Kate, stretching her roots in the Scottish tradition.