News / ‘Queen of Lerwick’ earns hall of fame place
A RENOWNED Shetland pianist says she is “thrilled to bits” after learning that she is to be inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
Violet Tulloch, who has forged a reputable career over a number of decades playing piano accompaniment, will be one of ten acts given the honour at this year’s induction ceremony dinner at Inverness Airport on 11 September.
The musician will join other previously inducted Shetland Hall of Fame musicians such as Tom Anderson, Peerie Willie Johnson and Jim Halcrow.
She will then perform alongside fellow islander Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards at Dundee’s Caird Hall on 5 December.
“I consider it a great honour,” Tulloch told Shetland News of her new inductee status.
“It’s also so nice to have the accompaniment recognised – whether it’s the piano, guitar or drums or whatever. So I feel like I’m accepting this on behalf of all these folk who provide backing.”
Tulloch counts playing alongside Willie Hunter at the Capitol Theatre in Aberdeen as her biggest highlight – “the audience was in tears,” she said.
The musician has enjoyed a lengthy career, and even had the Phil Cunningham track ‘Violet Tulloch, Queen of Lerwick’ written about her.
So when did she start learning piano? “I was about 16, shall we say – a lot of years ago.
“But I never tell anybody my age, ever,” she added with a smile.
Tulloch also gives private tuition to budding pianists – and it seems her services are in high demand.
“I did night classes at the Anderson High for ten years in the 1990s, and since then I’ve been doing private tuition,” she said.
“There’s no space, because many still want to come, so I find that very encouraging.
“I have some great ones coming through,” the musician, who has made numerous TV and radio appearances, added.
Tulloch has been perched on the piano stool for decades, but it seems the music will keep running through her fingers for some years yet.
“I’ll probably just do it until I drop,” she said. “I’ll keep going as along as I’m able to and pass on whatever knowledge that I can.”
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