MacLeod Fiddlers unveil second album to capacity crowd

The Bonnie Glen Pavilion was overflowing with Scottish music lovers on Sunday, July 18, as the MacLeod Fiddlers released their second album, entitled Glengarry Roots.

"It is with great pleasure that I bring to you this second recording of the MacLeod Fiddlers," said Ian MacLeod, the group's teacher and organizer of the event.

"There are many new faces on this album, but one thing that remains the same is the spirit of youthful energy that is ever present in the music," he added.

The MacLeod Fiddlers are made up of ten young musicians, many who have stemmed from generations of Glengarry County musical heritage. They are:

Braelyn MacMaster - Braelyn took up the fiddle more than ten years ago and comes from a very long line of musicians. Her great-grandfather, Martin Ferguson, was a well-known violinmaker and player in Dunvegan. She is also an accomplished step dancer and pianist. This is her second recording with the MacLeod Fiddlers.

Cassie McDonell - Cassie has been with the MacLeod Fiddlers since the groups beginning and is proud to be playing and harmonizing on both recordings. She has been taking fiddle lessons since the age of seven and now, at the age of 18, she is a gifted fiddler, piano accompanist and step dancer.

Cecilia Jennings - Cecilia started studying classical violin at age 10, but quickly switched to the traditional fiddle style. She recently spent six months in Germany where she took Irish fiddle lessons.

Christopher Allen - Chris began playing fiddle when he was four years old and, although he enjoyed playing the fiddle at this young age, it was only when he started to take lessons with the MacLeod family that he really grew to love playing and performing.

Connor MacLeod - Connor started playing on his grandfather's fiddle at the age of nine. It was then that a family friend told his grandfather that Connor needed fiddle lessons before he became too reliant on his ear, so he began taking lessons from Ian. He also enjoys playing guitar, banjo and trumpet.

Hannah Miller - Hannah was inspired to start fiddling at age six. While attending a ceillidh in Prince Edward Island, she saw a performed step dance and fiddle at the same time, and decided that she wanted to do that. Now 13 years old, she has been taking fiddle lessons from Ian for seven years and step dancing for three years.

Koryne Fraser - Koryne has been taking lessons from Ian since the age of 10 and has made her debut composing tunes on the new MacLeod Fiddlers album. She also enjoys playing the bass, piano and mandolin. This is Koryne's second recording with the MacLeod Fiddlers.

Lynsey Young Millage - Lynsey has been fiddling for seven years and comes from a very musical family. She also sings and plays the flute and piano. This past December, she had the honour of being the featured fiddler in the CBC Radio's airing of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

Rita Denobriga - Rita has been playing the fiddle since she was ten years old. She is also a snare drummer in the Glengarry Pipe Band and takes tap and highland dancing with the MacCulloch Dancers.

Robin Barillaro - Musically gifted from a young age, Robin's love of Scottish music and highland dancing has most recently led to her Gaelic singing under the direction of Sine McKenna. When the MacLeod Fiddlers perform, Robin also graces the stage with her beautifully choreographed highland dance routine.