CD by Caithness fiddler could raise four-figure sum for a Glasgow hospital charity
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A CAITHNESS musician is hoping to donate a four-figure sum from her latest CD to a children's hospital charity following the death of her two-year-old great nephew in a car crash.
Fiddler, Karen Steven, is also dedicating The Stroma Swelkie recording in memory of Iain Mackay who tragically lost his life in the accident at Occumster, near Lybster earlier this year. The toddler's mother Ashlyne – Karen's niece – was one of three women seriously injured in the crash and is still in hospital.
Karen, who lives and works in Aberdeen, was working on the CD before the accident but decided to release it in memory of her young relative and raise funds for the Glasgow Children's Hospital charity at the same time. Iain, who stayed in Wick, passed away in hospital in the city three days after the crash on the A99 in August. Karen also plans to undertake more fund-raising work for the charity at a later date.
The CD was available from yesterday and some orders already have been made following the article in the Caithness Courier last month. Karen hopes local shops may be interested in stocking the recording.
Twenty per cent of the proceeds from the sales will go the hospital charity which supports children and their families and offers bereavement support.
"I am hoping to raise as much as possible for the charity and hope to achieve a four-figure sum," said Karen who stressed the hospital staff were "a huge comfort to the family."
"It is only fitting that part of the proceeds go to support the amazing work of the charity," she added.
Karen explained that Ashlyne is still recovering from her injuries in hospital in Glasgow.
"We are all hoping she will be fit for a transfer to a medical facility further north for rehabilitation soon. No information on when that might be but we are keeping positive and hoping that will be sooner rather than later."
Ashylne – daughter of Karen's younger sister Maree MacDonald – was a passenger in one of the two cars involved in the accident.
Meanwhile, Karen has been invited back by North West Scottish Fiddles in Seattle, USA to teach an online workshop. Over 50 American fiddlers attended her first workshop last year when she had her new tunebook to promote. This time around she can offer them some recorded music from the CD.
The workshop will take place on February 20 next year and last two hours. "I had lots of really good feedback last year so, hopefully, will get a good response this year too," said Karen who works from home for a ship routing company in Aberdeen.
The Stroma Swelkie has 67 tunes on 22 tracks with 15 compositions by Karen – three of which were written in the last year. Accordionist Alasdair MacDonald, who comes from Wick but now lives in Canada, is one of the musicians featured on the recording but it also includes other local musicians, including Grant Lyall on djembe and James Ross on accordion, both from Wick, Heather Sinclair from Thurso on double bass from Thurso and Niall Laybourne, Halkirk on cello.
The CD is a snapshot of Karen's playing over 25 years and has a number of traditional tunes by such notable musicians as Neil Gow, J Scott Skinner, Tom Anderson and Willie Hunter, but also has an influence of Cape Breton music.
The CD is available at Karen's website, www.karensteven.co.uk and by contacting her on her email: k.l.steven@btinternet.com
