Craig’s musical gig for charity

Nov 11 2008 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ALL proceeds from a Charity Ceilidh in The Thistle Hotel, Milnathort, on Friday at 7.30pm will be donated to Macmillan Nurses.

The music will be provided by 15-year-old Craig Paton (leftt) from Milnathort with his Scottish Dance Band.

The charity concert comes of the back of Craig’s outstanding success at the recent All Scotland Accordion and Fiddle Festival in Perth where he won Accordion under-16 Pipe Music; Accordion under-16 Traditional March, Strathspey & Reel – for the third year running; Junior Classical Accordion; Open Trios; and Open Bands, including best rhythm section.

Craig attends Aberdeen City Music School attached to Dyce Academy where he is a student of John Bone from Inverallochy.

Craig took up the accordion aged nine when he was taught by Ian Anderson at Wilkies School of Music in Perth. A year later he won two first positions for Classical and Pipe Music at the NAAFC Musselburgh Festival.

The teenager, who also plays piano, fiddle and bass, has been consistently winning competitions around the country, now playing at First Diploma level. He has played on TV and Radio and has represented the World Burns Federation at the Scottish Parliament.

His 2008 milestones include becoming the under-16 champion at the NAAFC Dunblane Festival 2008; he achieved a hat-trick of solo first places at the Highlands and Islands Music Festival 2008 and first place in the bands; and in September Craig was in Milan at the European Accordion Festival having been invited by Claudio Beltrami, accordion manufacturer in Stradella.

Craig has also enjoyed performing as guest artiste at several of the accordion and fiddle clubs and festivals with his band.

Tickets for Friday’s charity event are £5, available from the Thistle Hotel, telephone 01577 863222 or 07748 298 292.