Youngsters from across Moray sang and danced the weekend away during a celebration of the country’s traditional music.
The participants were involved in day-long workshops as part of the 10th annual Feis Mhoireibh gathering, which was staged at Moray College on Saturday and Sunday.
The event aims to preserve Scotland’s culture by igniting a passion for time-honoured tunes and instruments among young people.
Across several sessions, the children honed their skills on instruments such as the harp and clarsach.
They even learned a song in Gaelic and created a dance, influenced by the military two-step, to accompany it.
The festivities concluded with a concert for parents at 4.30pm yesterday afternoon, during which the children put into practice the skills they had learned over the course of the weekend.
Organiser Steph Christie said: “It has been a very successful weekend, with a real family atmosphere.
“The children have had a lovely time, and a lot of ex-pupils have returned to mark our special anniversary by helping teach this year’s group.
“This is all about passing on ancient traditions to the next generation, and I am always eager to promote an interest in less commonly known instruments.
“You just never know when something may really spark a talent in a child.”
During the closing concert, Alba Scanlon told traditional stories based on designs that had been woven into tapestry and displayed in the college.
Other youngsters dazzled their parents with exhibitions on the guitar, accordion, keyboard and tin whistle.
Chanter and bagpipes instructor, Ben Mortimer, was a pupil during the inaugural Feis Mhoireibh weekend in 2006.
The 26-year-old subsequently moved on to become an instructor in 2008, and has been impressed by the festival’s growing success.
Mr Mortimer said: “I’ve been a tutor for the last eight years, and I’m amazed by how keen the children are to learn.
“We try to make it fun and enjoyable for them, so that learning these instruments doesn’t seem like a chore.
“Every year just seems to get better and better.”
Interested youngsters will be able to develop the harp and fiddle skills they picked up over the weekend at continuation classes arranged by Mrs Christie.
