Westminster College to Host Two Free Scottish Fiddling Concerts in June

Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, will stage two public concerts featuring its Strathgheny School of Scottish Fiddling on June 22 and June 26. The events will take place at the New Wilmington Borough Amphitheater, a venue located in the borough’s park on Beechwood Avenue.

The first concert, scheduled for the evening of June 22, will be an Instructor’s Concert. Dr. Melinda Perttu, a professor of music at Westminster and director of the Strathgheny School, will lead the performance. Joining her is David Gardner, a professional fiddler from Williamsburg, Virginia, who also serves as the director of the Williamsburg Strathspey and Reel Society. Keyboard accompaniment will be provided by Dr. Daniel Perttu, another Westminster music professor.

The second concert, on June 26, will showcase the students of the Strathgheny School. It will be billed as the Strathgheny Fiddlers Concert and will feature the performers who completed the week‑long Scottish fiddling camp held on the college campus.

The concerts conclude a week‑long camp that ran from June 21 to June 27. Participants from across the United States studied traditional Scottish bowing techniques, ornamentation, interpretation, rhythmic nuance, and ear‑training. The program also covered the reading of traditional notation. The camp offered both in‑person instruction on campus and an online participation option.

Dr. Melinda Perttu is a sanctioned Scottish FIRE judge and the U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion. She is the author of A Violinist’s Guide to Scottish Fiddling. Perttu earned her undergraduate degree from Duquesne University and completed a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.

David Gardner, who also holds a Scottish FIRE judge certification, is a Fulbright teacher‑exchange scholar in music. In addition to his role with the Williamsburg Strathspey and Reel Society, Gardner has performed professionally as a fiddler.

Both concerts are free and open to the public. If inclement weather occurs, the performances will be relocated to the Berlin Lounge in Westminster College’s McKelvey Campus Center.

The Strathgheny School of Scottish Fiddling has been a recurring event at Westminster College since the early 2010s. The program is known for its emphasis on authentic Scottish fiddle traditions and for drawing students and musicians from across the country.

The upcoming concerts provide an opportunity for the local community and visitors to experience live Scottish fiddle music in a historic outdoor setting. The amphitheater’s open‑air design offers an intimate atmosphere for audiences, while the college’s campus facilities support both the educational and performance aspects of the program.

The college’s music department, which includes faculty members such as Dr. Melinda Perttu and Dr. Daniel Perttu, continues to support a range of music education initiatives. The Strathgheny School is one of several programs that highlight the college’s commitment to diverse musical traditions.

For those unable to attend in person, recordings of the concerts may become available through the college’s media channels after the events.

The concerts are scheduled for 8 p.m. on both dates, and the amphitheater is expected to accommodate a sizable audience. Westminster College encourages community members to attend and to support the ongoing work of the Strathgheny School of Scottish Fiddling.

The events underscore the college’s role in preserving and promoting Scottish fiddle heritage while providing students with hands‑on performance experience. The free concerts also serve to broaden public exposure to traditional Scottish music.

The Strathgheny School’s week‑long camp and its concluding concerts are part of a broader trend of universities offering specialized folk‑music programs that combine academic instruction with public performance opportunities.

In summary, Westminster College will host two free, public concerts featuring the Strathgheny School of Scottish Fiddling on June 22 and June 26. The events will showcase both faculty and student performers, and they will conclude a week‑long camp that blends in‑person and online learning. The concerts will take place at the New Wilmington Borough Amphitheater, with a backup venue at the Berlin Lounge in case of weather disruptions.