Erica Hastie has been chosen as one of 16 fiddlers in the core band for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo taking place on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade from August 7 to 29.
The Scottish expat teaches violin and fiddle and plays in local trad Irish band Ceol.
She also travels New Zealand to play in music festivals and was encouraged to audition for the tattoo by another expat Scot who played in it last year.
“I thought, there’s nothing to lose.
“I had an online Zoom audition. I had to play a piece of my own choice and I was given three tunes and had two days to learn them.
“There was a lot of competition. I really, honestly, didn’t even think I had a chance.”
Ms Hastie said she attended the tattoo once as a child.
“I wouldn’t even have dreamt of being able to take part in it myself, but it’s a really moving show, very traditional, very exciting and it was amazing to watch. So I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it will be to be part of it.”
She was most looking forward to working with renowned fiddler section director Margaret Robertson.
A “Get Erica to Edinburgh” fundraiser is being held at Queenstown’s Te Atamira on June 27 where she will teach the audience traditional Ceilidh steps.
“I’m not paid for my time and I also have to pay for my travel to get there.
“I wouldn’t be the kind of person to ask but my partner and my friends were saying, ‘If you ask, people will help.’
“I support a lot of our music community in teaching and performing and I think people recognise that, so I’ve set my ego to one side.”
