Sarasota’s 100th Anniversary and 2003 Tartan Day

A "Celebrate Sarasota" Event

Sarasota’s four Scottish groups and the Sarasota Sister City Association will highlight a first-ever appearance in Sarasota of a Scottish Fiddle Orchestra – The Strathspey Reel Society – Sunday, April 6, at the Sarasota High School Auditorium on School Avenue -- a "CELEBRATE SARASOTA" 100^th Anniversary event.

The Strathspey Reel Society, famous throughout Scotland for their fun-filled concerts, is composed of 35 fiddlers, dancers, pipers and singers and features two instruments not frequently heard these days – the accordion and the mandolin.

Direct from Dunfermline, the ancient capital of Scotland, to spotlight Sarasota’s 100^th Anniversary and our country’s National Tartan Day, April 6, the Society will be in concert on two occasions that day:

2:00 p.m. Matinee for all students, kindergarten through college, and members of Sarasota retirement homes. The cost is $5.00 per person.

7:30 p.m. Evening performance for the public, all members of Sarasota’s four Scottish organization, and all members of the Sarasota Sister City Association. The cost is $20.00 per person.

Tickets for the evening performance are on sale at Scot’s Corner, all Davidson Drug Stores, the British Open Pubs in Sarasota and Venice, Tastefully British, Inc., Old Sod in Venice and McSwiggins Pub in Bradenton. Both student and public tickets may also be purchased by contacting Don Osborne, 755-5052, or kddo@tampabay.rr.com. College students may purchase tickets from Kimberly Modic, KMO766@aol.com.

While in Sarasota, the Strathspey Reel Society will be conducting master classes in the area’s high schools and junior high schools.

Tartan Day was created in March, 1998, by proclamation of the United States Congress, "recognizing the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans that have led to America’s pre-eminence in the fields of science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media and visual and performing arts."

April 6, 2003 will mark the sixth anniversary of a Tartan Day event in the Sarasota area. Scottish activity is keen in Sarasota because the area was first settled by Scots from Glasgow in 1885. For the past four years, Tartan Day events have been coordinated by the four Scottish groups in the greater Sarasota area – The Caledonian Club of Florida West, The St. Andrew Society, The Daughters of Scotia and the Scottish Heritage Society.

The Sarasota Sister City Association is also an important supporter of the Strathspey Reel Society’s visit and will hold an opening reception for the orchestra on April 3, at the home of Dr. Fred and Roberta Somach, who are members of the Sarasota Sister City Association and The Caledonian Club of Florida West.

Dunfermline, Scotland became Sarasota’s fifth sister city in signing ceremonies at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in October, 2002. Area arts patrons know that the magnificent interior of the Asolo State Theatre is the reconstructed Opera House from Dunfermline.

For event questions please call Don Osborne, 755-5052 or email him at kddo@tampabay.rr.com. For media questions, please call Bill Wallace, 378-0085 or email him at walljb@comcast.net.