Catriona Macdonald (born 1969 or 1970) is a musician, composer, researcher and lecturer from
Shetland and is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional
fiddle players.[1]
Background
Macdonald started studying fiddle with Dr
Tom AndersonMBE[2] in 1981 at age 11 (she considers herself to be a late starter[3]), was a founding member of
Shetland's Young Heritage[4] and won the Shetland
Young Fiddler of the Year competition in 1983.[5] In 1992 Macdonald won the BBC Radio Two
Young Tradition Award and went on to study voice for four years at the
Royal College of Music in London. She lives in Scotland and focuses both on an her international music playing and an academic career.[6]
Macdonald is an active teacher with a passion for sharing her knowledge of traditional fiddle techniques and
vernacular.[7] Professionally she is Chair of Undergraduate Board of Studies and Degree Program Director for BA in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University[8] as well a Doctoral candidate. Catriona has worked as a tutor and course assessor for the Scottish Music Degree at the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and has taught at Universities in Norway, Ireland, Denmark, Canada and Australia as well as Stirling and Highlands and Islands in Scotland. Catriona regularly tutors at a variety of summer schools and residential courses around the world including "Burwell Bash",[9] "Shetland Fiddle Frenzy",[10] "Folkworks"[11] and "Blazin' in Beauly" (
Blazin' Fiddles' own summer school).[12]
^World Music: The Rough Guide
By Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, Richard Trillo, Orla Duane, Vanessa Dowel, Published by Rough Guides, 1999
ISBN1-85828-635-2,
ISBN978-1-85828-635-8