Biography
Catriona Macdonald is a proud bearer of one of the world's great fiddle traditions, that of the Shetland Isles. A star pupil of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, Catriona at once embodies the strength and spirit of her heritage with the freshness and diversity of a thoroughly modern performer. Her superb playing and great charisma have established her a worldwide reputation.
Catriona began playing as a child back in 1981 under Tammy's masterful musical tutelage. Less than two years later, she took both the title of Young Fiddler of the Year in the annual Shetland Folk Society competition and the deputy leadership of a new fiddle group, Shetland's Young Heritage, set up to help preserve Shetland traditional music and to help Tammy teaching Shetland traditional fiddle to local school children.
In 1991 her dexterity and presence became acknowledged on a wider stage, when she won the prestigious BBC Radio Two Young Tradition Award, a high profile competition featuring the cream of Britain's young traditional players. However, fiddle playing was not her only talent and at the age of eighteen, Catriona found herself studying voice at the Royal College of Music in London. After graduating from four years study it was time to focus on Catriona's first love the Shetland fiddle so she returned to Scotland and started her professional career.
Catriona was probably best known at this time for her splendid duo with piano accordionist Ian Lowthian who she had met while in London. The superb technical mastery and beautiful evocative arrangements heard on their 1983 album “opus blue” for which they were critically acclaimed (amongst their fans is Mark Knopfler, former front man of Dire Straits!) led them to play for audiences throughout the world, from Malaysia to America, and Germany to Galway.
In 1998 Catriona was asked to join a group of young Scottish fiddlers from the Highlands for what was initially a one off tour. The success of the tour soon saw this informal “rabble” turn into one of Scotland’s much loved traditional groups Blazin` Fiddles.
2008, is the Blazin` Fiddles tenth anniversary year and with a new “live” album out in November 2007 getting rave reviews the bands flame continues to burn brightly .
The” Live” album is the fourth album from the band who have received various accolades over the years including Best Live Act (2004) Album of the Year (2005) at the Scottish Folk Awards.
Catriona`s debut solo album “bold” was released in 2000 on her own label Peerie Angel Productions. She was joined on this album by some of Scotland’s finest instrumentalists.
Pianist David Milligan is heavily involved in the Scottish jazz scene, Bassist Conrad Ivitsky is formerly a member of popular international touring "acid-croft" outfit Shooglenifty, and top percussionist James Mackintosh, is also currently in Shooglenifty.
January 2000 also saw Catriona create the String Sisters project and it premiered at Celtic Connections that year. This project brings together six of the most exciting female fiddle players in the world. The String Sisters are Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles, Emma Hardalien Annbjorg Lien and Mairead ni Mhaonaigh.
2007 saw them release String Sisters “Live in Norway” and they are nominated for this album in The Spelamann Prize, Norway Feb 2008.
Catriona`s commitment to the promotion of her island's heritage through education is also an important part of her work; from helping in 1987 to negotiate for the inclusion of Shetland Traditional Fiddle Music into the Scottish Certificate '0' Grade Music on behalf of Tom Anderson and seeing its fruition and success. She has also been invited as a visiting tutor as part of the Scottish Music Degree at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance in Glasgow and also the Universities of Limerick and Stirling.
Since 2000 Catriona has been a Core Lecturer on the exciting Bmus Folk and Traditional Music course held at Newcastle University and she has been developing and teaching on this exciting course which produces many of the new wave of folk artists on the scene today.
Macdonald`s main project at the moment is the release of her new solo album “over the moon”.
Joining forces once more with David Milligan (piano), Conrad Ivitsky (double bass) and James Mackintosh (drums and percussion) this album sees the quartet playing with a maturity of sound that comes from years of live work and musical friendship.
Here are some reviews and comments on “over the moon” so far:
Scotland on Sunday -Sun 9 Dec 2007
CATRIONA MACDONALD ****
Over The Moon-Peerie Angel Productions PAP002CD
The solo album from the Shetland lass is a cool collection of carefully played contemporary fiddle settings. Centred on lesser-known traditional music from her home archipelago, the album also includes tunes from North America and Scandinavia, and some of her own, in thoughtful jazz-trio textures. It's easy on the ears, and includes a peerie hidden track of herself, singing an old trowie ballad. - Norman Chalmers
Five years on from her debut solo recording and Catriona Macdonald has emerged as a fiddle player of great beauty and integrity. In company with David Milligan (piano), Conrad Ivitsky (double bass) and James Mackintosh (percussion) the traditional leanings of her Shetland upbringing and own tune writing merge seamlessly with the jazz accompaniment which is exhilarating. Somewhere, way back when I was in junior school (I’m 50 now so you figure it out) I fondly remember listening to Scottish fiddle music accompanied by strident piano jazz chords so in many ways things haven’t moved that much further it’s just they’ve become more contemporary (listener friendly) and in the hands of these four musicians they’ve re-awakened my desire to concentrate on my own performance. Favourite tracks?...There’s not one as they’re all as good as each other. Anything that can revitalize my somewhat jaded ears can only be seen as a positive thing and you’ll find this is one of the recordings that you’ll sit down, soak up the sounds and wake up with a broad grin on your face. www.catrionamacdonald.com
PETE FYFE
…..Great new album by the "Shetland Fiddle Diva". Superb, subtle and succulent.
History starts today ! ! -Footstompin Forum
…..The Shetland fiddle diva is in fine form here with a select band of backing musicians providing trad to jazzy accompaniments……………... All played with great panache.
…..The Shetland fiddler enjoys a teasing little reel played in a light jazzy way before nudging her trio awake to soar into full flight.
She certainly hits all the right notes and is not afraid to take chances.
This strikes us as being a thoughtful offering, bringing the fiddle into the band as the lead instrument rather than just fiddling with some rhythm support and it makes for a better listening experience.
The tune selection, too, is out of the norm.; Refreshing!
….After a seven year gap, this is the long-awaited second solo album from Shetland fiddler and sole girl-member of the popular band 'Blazin' Fiddles', Catriona Macdonald. Well worth the wait with a beautiful selection of tunes and some glorious lyrical playing.-Footstompin
Catriona began playing as a child back in 1981 under Tammy's masterful musical tutelage. Less than two years later, she took both the title of Young Fiddler of the Year in the annual Shetland Folk Society competition and the deputy leadership of a new fiddle group, Shetland's Young Heritage, set up to help preserve Shetland traditional music and to help Tammy teaching Shetland traditional fiddle to local school children.
In 1991 her dexterity and presence became acknowledged on a wider stage, when she won the prestigious BBC Radio Two Young Tradition Award, a high profile competition featuring the cream of Britain's young traditional players. However, fiddle playing was not her only talent and at the age of eighteen, Catriona found herself studying voice at the Royal College of Music in London. After graduating from four years study it was time to focus on Catriona's first love the Shetland fiddle so she returned to Scotland and started her professional career.
Catriona was probably best known at this time for her splendid duo with piano accordionist Ian Lowthian who she had met while in London. The superb technical mastery and beautiful evocative arrangements heard on their 1983 album “opus blue” for which they were critically acclaimed (amongst their fans is Mark Knopfler, former front man of Dire Straits!) led them to play for audiences throughout the world, from Malaysia to America, and Germany to Galway.
In 1998 Catriona was asked to join a group of young Scottish fiddlers from the Highlands for what was initially a one off tour. The success of the tour soon saw this informal “rabble” turn into one of Scotland’s much loved traditional groups Blazin` Fiddles.
2008, is the Blazin` Fiddles tenth anniversary year and with a new “live” album out in November 2007 getting rave reviews the bands flame continues to burn brightly .
The” Live” album is the fourth album from the band who have received various accolades over the years including Best Live Act (2004) Album of the Year (2005) at the Scottish Folk Awards.
Catriona`s debut solo album “bold” was released in 2000 on her own label Peerie Angel Productions. She was joined on this album by some of Scotland’s finest instrumentalists.
Pianist David Milligan is heavily involved in the Scottish jazz scene, Bassist Conrad Ivitsky is formerly a member of popular international touring "acid-croft" outfit Shooglenifty, and top percussionist James Mackintosh, is also currently in Shooglenifty.
January 2000 also saw Catriona create the String Sisters project and it premiered at Celtic Connections that year. This project brings together six of the most exciting female fiddle players in the world. The String Sisters are Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles, Emma Hardalien Annbjorg Lien and Mairead ni Mhaonaigh.
2007 saw them release String Sisters “Live in Norway” and they are nominated for this album in The Spelamann Prize, Norway Feb 2008.
Catriona`s commitment to the promotion of her island's heritage through education is also an important part of her work; from helping in 1987 to negotiate for the inclusion of Shetland Traditional Fiddle Music into the Scottish Certificate '0' Grade Music on behalf of Tom Anderson and seeing its fruition and success. She has also been invited as a visiting tutor as part of the Scottish Music Degree at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance in Glasgow and also the Universities of Limerick and Stirling.
Since 2000 Catriona has been a Core Lecturer on the exciting Bmus Folk and Traditional Music course held at Newcastle University and she has been developing and teaching on this exciting course which produces many of the new wave of folk artists on the scene today.
Macdonald`s main project at the moment is the release of her new solo album “over the moon”.
Joining forces once more with David Milligan (piano), Conrad Ivitsky (double bass) and James Mackintosh (drums and percussion) this album sees the quartet playing with a maturity of sound that comes from years of live work and musical friendship.
Here are some reviews and comments on “over the moon” so far:
Scotland on Sunday -Sun 9 Dec 2007
CATRIONA MACDONALD ****
Over The Moon-Peerie Angel Productions PAP002CD
The solo album from the Shetland lass is a cool collection of carefully played contemporary fiddle settings. Centred on lesser-known traditional music from her home archipelago, the album also includes tunes from North America and Scandinavia, and some of her own, in thoughtful jazz-trio textures. It's easy on the ears, and includes a peerie hidden track of herself, singing an old trowie ballad. - Norman Chalmers
Five years on from her debut solo recording and Catriona Macdonald has emerged as a fiddle player of great beauty and integrity. In company with David Milligan (piano), Conrad Ivitsky (double bass) and James Mackintosh (percussion) the traditional leanings of her Shetland upbringing and own tune writing merge seamlessly with the jazz accompaniment which is exhilarating. Somewhere, way back when I was in junior school (I’m 50 now so you figure it out) I fondly remember listening to Scottish fiddle music accompanied by strident piano jazz chords so in many ways things haven’t moved that much further it’s just they’ve become more contemporary (listener friendly) and in the hands of these four musicians they’ve re-awakened my desire to concentrate on my own performance. Favourite tracks?...There’s not one as they’re all as good as each other. Anything that can revitalize my somewhat jaded ears can only be seen as a positive thing and you’ll find this is one of the recordings that you’ll sit down, soak up the sounds and wake up with a broad grin on your face. www.catrionamacdonald.com
PETE FYFE
…..Great new album by the "Shetland Fiddle Diva". Superb, subtle and succulent.
History starts today ! ! -Footstompin Forum
…..The Shetland fiddle diva is in fine form here with a select band of backing musicians providing trad to jazzy accompaniments……………... All played with great panache.
…..The Shetland fiddler enjoys a teasing little reel played in a light jazzy way before nudging her trio awake to soar into full flight.
She certainly hits all the right notes and is not afraid to take chances.
This strikes us as being a thoughtful offering, bringing the fiddle into the band as the lead instrument rather than just fiddling with some rhythm support and it makes for a better listening experience.
The tune selection, too, is out of the norm.; Refreshing!
….After a seven year gap, this is the long-awaited second solo album from Shetland fiddler and sole girl-member of the popular band 'Blazin' Fiddles', Catriona Macdonald. Well worth the wait with a beautiful selection of tunes and some glorious lyrical playing.-Footstompin