"HAITI ORPHANS CHARITY CONCERT "SHERLOCK"VIOLIN USHER HALL 15TH MAY"

A review of Oasis Womens Support Group by STEVE BURNETT written on Friday 26th of March 2010

Dear Sir/Madam

I was hoping you would be good enough to circulate this important forthcoming charity concert information amongst MEMBERS & contacts.

Thanks very much.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Burnett (0131 228 3638)

‘SHERLOCK MEETS HIS VIOLIN’

A unique concert celebrating 150th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in aid of SOS Children’s Villages

15 May 2010, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

On Saturday 15th May, Edinburgh will have a final chance to join in a celebration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 150th Anniversary. The concert at the Usher Hall will be featuring the ‘Sherlock’ violin and is in aid of the SOS Children Haiti Orphan Appeal. The violin will be played by talented Armenian violinist Ani Batikian, fellow at the RSAMD, who will be joined by the St Patrick’s Baroque Ensemble in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

But this is not just another violin concert. Ani and her accompanist, Helena Buckmayer will be joined in the second half by the storyteller, Mike Maran, as he investigates the life and times of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Here Sherlock will certainly meet his violin in the programme of music from the era of Conan Doyle interspersed with Mike’s entertaining and insightful storytelling. Mike, who grew up in Edinburgh, has performed many times in the Edinburgh Festival with his retelling of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, amongst others. The concert will also feature the World Première of a piece written for the ‘Sherlock’ violin named ‘Elsie and Frances’ by the local Scottish composer, James Clapperton.

Steve Burnett, the well-known Edinburgh Violin maker, created the ‘Sherlock’ Violin from a tree that grew in the grounds of Conan Doyle’s childhood home. The violin is not only a beautiful instrument but has an unusual purpose — raising money for children’s and environmental charities.

SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti for more than 30 years. Fortunately both SOS Children’s Villages were undamaged and are one located in Port-au-Prince is now housing several hundred children who have lost their families. In addition, SOS Children are distributing food, basic supplies and medical care to more than 40,000 children and families in the community. The SOS Children Haiti Orphan Appeal will ensure long-term family-based care for these children.

Tickets for this intriguingly different evening of celebration and music are available from the Usher Hall www.usherhall.co.uk , Telephone 0131 228 1155.

For press enquiries, please contact Elizabeth Rodgers, Press & Communications Manager, SOS Children, elizabeth@soschildren.org, Telephone 01223 365 589

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Notes to Editors:

SOS Children, a Nobel Peace prize-nominated charity, provides a family for life for children who have lost their parents through war, famine, disease and poverty. Over 78,000 orphaned and abandoned children are cared for by SOS mothers in clusters of family homes in more than 500 unique Children's Villages in 124 countries worldwide. Thousands more children benefit from SOS Children's outreach support which includes education, vocational training, medical care and community development programmes. www.soschildren.org

The"Sherlock"violin was created in 2009 by Edinburgh violin maker Steve Burnett to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the famous violin playing detective, Sherlock Holmes. This unique concert instrument, (inspired by the late period violins of the great 18th century Italian maker Giuseppe Guarnerius del Gesu) was made from an elderly sycamore tree that stood until the beginning of 2009 in the garden of Liberton Bank House in Edinburgh,the childhood home of Conan Doyle, and now the building occupied by Dunedin school.The "Sherlock" violin stands to support through concerts ,local and international childrens and environmental charities and is now owned by Dunedin school.

Storyteller and actor, Mike Maran (www.mikemaran.com) is a veteran of the Edinburgh Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He is a founder member of The Edinburgh Festival Chorus and sang in the choir's debut, Mahler's 8th, which opened the Edinburgh Festival on Sunday, August 22nd. 1965 in the Usher Hall. His recent work includes the award winning productions of 'Did You Used to be R.D.Laing?', 'Mahler: Song & Dance Man' and'The Little World of Don Camillo'. In 1999, he adapted 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin’ for the stage which attracted widespread critical acclaim

Armenian violinist Ani Batikian (www.anibatikian.com) entered the Yerevan State Conservatoire in Armenia at the age of 15, being the youngest student ever to study there and supported by a local scholarship. At the age of 19 she received an undergraduate and at the age of 20 a postgraduate diploma with honours. She has performed as a soloist with National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, Naregatsi Baroque Orchestra, Katrineholm Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, as well as RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) Symphony Orchestra and St.James' Orchestra in the UK. Recently she had her successful Canadian debut with Sinfonia Toronto, playing Alan Hovhaness Violin Concerto. Receiving a full scholarship in 2003 meant she could continue her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Currently Ani is a lecturer at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

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