Musical students from all over the Isle of Man gathered for the 12th annual Bree Manx music and dance weekend.

The workshops were themed around a range of Manx stamps from the called ’Manx Folk Traditions’ and designed by Jay Cover.

Bree tutors and students took inspiration from the traditional songs, tunes, dances and folklore associated with the images on the stamps; Mheillea, Hop tu naa, Hunt the Wren, Old Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the Quaaltagh (first footer on New Year’s Day).

Over the two days, the students worked really hard to produce pieces for the showcase concert for family and friends.

The dancers started the concert with a programme incorporating Y Mheillea, Hop tu naa and Hunt the Wren, which was choreographed by tutor Caroline Helps and accompanied by band of young Bree musicians. The composers’ group followed on with a new tune they had written together, which was based on the rhythm of the original Hop tu naa dance tune.

The singing group then took to the stage with a medley of songs from the various calendar customs - the Quaaltagh song, various versions of Hop tu naa in English and Manx, and a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, sung in Manx.

A folk group, who called themselves the Wandersquad, then performed some traditional tunes associated with the hired fiddler of the ’Kegeesh Ommidjagh’ [foolish fortnight] around Christmas-time and the New Year; ’Wandescope 1 & 2’, followed by ’Mheillea Noa’; a new tune which was written by Katie Lawrence as an alternative to the well-known dance tune.

The songwriting group, led by tutor Greg Joughin, came on next, and they had taken inspiration from the Manx fairytale, The Old Christmas, and had penned a song about Peggy Shimmin from Ballacooil.

The drama group interpreted the Manx fairytale Tehi Tegi - the beautiful witch who was turned into a tiny wren by Manannan, and who is still hunted each year on St Stephen’s Day.

The full cast of Bree - Manx for vitality - students and tutors then joined together for a finale with the song and dance of Hunt the Wren.

The Bree tutors were Clare Kilgallon, Greg Joughin, Caroline Helps, Caitlin Bennett, Jo Callister and Feeagh Joughin, plus Ronnie and Anita Corkish and Jiri Podobsky, who documented the weekend through film and photography.

The Bree weekend and Manx music youth movement is organised by Dr Chloe Woolley, Manx music development officer for Culture Vannin.