Scottish Fiddling
Welcome to the Scottish Fiddle page. Check out our schedule below for all weekend events and list of some of the main performers. Our special guest fiddler and workshop instructor this year is Judi Nicolson, a champion Scottish fiddler originally from Banchory Scotland now living in Katy Texas. She will be accompanied by local renowned musicians Fred Collins & Kathy Fraser Collins, a dynamic husband and wife team from St-Anne de Prescott. See all bios below.
See you in the air conditioned Arena Hall.
Fiddle Events You Won’t Want to Miss
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 2:00pm - 5:00pm | Scottish Youth Fiddlers Showcase featuring The MacLeod School Fiddling & The Students Of David MacPhee | Arena Hall |
| Friday 5:00pm - 5:30pm | Judi Nicolson with Kathy Fraser Collins & Fred Collins Glengarry Massed Fiddlers |
Arena Hall |
| Friday 6:30pm | Glengarry Massed Fiddlers (performing in the Friday night concert on main stage in front of grandstand) | Infield Stage Tattoo |
| Saturday 9:30am - 11:30am | Fiddle Workshop and mini concert with Judi Nicolson | Arena Hall |
| Saturday 1:30pm - 5:00pm | Scottish Fiddle Concert featuring; Special Guest Judi Nicolson acc. Kathy Fraser Collins & Fred Collins, The Glengarry Massed Fiddlers, The Cape Breton Fiddlers, Bernard McDonell, Kelsey & Cassie McDonell, Ashley MacLeod-McRae, The Students Of David MacPhee, Charlotte Reed, Evelyn Cumming, The MacLeod Fiddlers, Rachel Campbell, Connor MacLeod, and more... | Arena Hall |
Judi Nicolson - Special Guest Fiddler & Workshop
Judi Nicolson, originally from Banchory, Scotland, is a consummate performer; her dynamic fiddling, engaging stage presence and deep understanding of Scotland’s music has created a demand for her solo appearances, concerts, and dances throughout America and Canada.
Judi was trained in both classical and traditional styles; however, from an early age, her passion has always been to play traditional Scottish fiddle music. By the age of fifteen, Judi had won three major open Scottish fiddle championships including the Golden Fiddle Award – a competition that attracted competitors from around the world. She went on to play at various music venues throughout the U.K., both as a soloist and alongside some of the finest Scottish dance bands.
In 1990, Judi relocated to Shetland, continuing her musical career and taking a position with the Shetland Musical Heritage Trust as Musical Archivist to transcribe Dr. Tom Anderson’s music collection. Shetland’s music and its many musicians became a huge influence to Judi, as she regularly played with Violet Tulloch at venues in addition to producing a multitude of recordings both for TV and Radio. She also had many opportunities to play with the late Willie Hunter who was a huge influence on her playing. Great times were had during these years. Throughout her time in Shetland, Judi taught traditional fiddle music across the islands, ensuring that traditional music would continue to thrive.
Over the years, Judi has performed in television, radio and theater productions, and has recorded two solo albums as well as 14 albums with various musicians and bands.
Judi is a qualified teacher of both classical violin and traditional fiddle in Scotland.
In 2004, Judi, her husband Ian and their two children relocated to Inverurie, Scotland, and she quickly accepted a position to teach classical and traditional violin throughout schools in the area. During this time, she played with several of Scotland’s finest musicians. In 2008, Judi and her family moved once again to Katy, Texas, where Judi swiftly made her mark on the music scene throughout North America. She reconnected with the late Bobby Brown, who formed the “Cape Breton Symphony” at TAC week 2010, and formed a close bond with Kathy and Fred Collins, who, along with Rob Wolanski, played in the band, “Scottish Accent.” After several bookings, Kathy, Fred, Rob and Judi recorded a CD together.
Judi continues to be in high demand for teaching, performing at concerts, and for Scottish country dances, workshops, and Balls worldwide.
Kathy and Fred Collins
Kathy was born in a rural farming community near the Scottish settlement of Glengarry County, Ontario. She began playing the piano at age 5 and would eventually spend 35 years performing with Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent and Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers for many tours, workshops, dances and recordings. Kathy was inducted into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame in 2014. Along with her husband Fred, she remains very involved in the music scene in their area. They are members of the Quigley Highlanders Pipes and Drums and for many years enjoyed promoting young local musicians through their own Torridon Scottish Dance Band.
Drumming was an early passion for Dundee born Fred Collins and the opportunity came when joining the Boy’s Brigade at age 12. Fred soon became a member of the competitive MacLeod Pipe Band performing at highland games throughout Scotland. With members of his Boy’s Brigade, he formed a Scottish Dance Band “The Gie Gordons” while also being called upon to play with such legendary bands as Jimmy Shand, Angus Fitchet and John Ellis. Upon arriving in Canada in 1954, Fred was immediately recruited as lead drummer by the Toronto Scottish Pipe Band and later joined the 400 Squadron RCAF pipe band. In addition he joined the first Canadian Scottish Dance Band - “The Four Scots”. Over the years he was a member of a variety of bands including Stan Hamilton, Angus MacKinnon, Don Bartlett, Alex Jappy, Bobby Brown & the Scottish Accent and the Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers.
Both Kathy & Fred have been privileged to work with outstanding fiddler, Judi Nicolson for the past 10 years and performed with her for many concerts, dances and workshops in Canada, US and abroad. They released their first CD with Judi - "Fiddle My Style" in 2016. They have since collaborated with Judi and Ian Muir - a renowned accordionist from Prestwick, Scotland. This ensemble known as “Tartan Ties” is in high demand for many events both on this continent and abroad and has recorded two CD’s “Fire Away” and “Connection”.
The Glengarry Massed Fiddlers
For many years, one of the popular features at the Glengarry Highland Games has been the music of the Glengarry Massed Fiddlers. The group varies from about 50 to as many as 80 plus musicians of all ages who gladly volunteer their time to play each year at the Games and other events. Their appearances on the main stage in the Friday night Tattoo and the Saturday afternoon Scottish Fiddle Concert in the Arena Hall are definitely the weekend highlight of all things fiddle. Sponsored by The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall OF Fame in the spring of 2015 they recorded a CD simply entitled ‘The Glengarry Fiddlers’. Seventy-four musicians showed up to participate and the CD was released later that summer. Most of the musicians are from the greater Glengarry area and throughout Eastern Ontario. The new CD is available at all the fiddle events in the Arena Hall Games weekend.
The MacLeod Fiddlers
The MacLeod Fiddlers are a Scottish youth group from the county of Glengarry. They are the performance group for “The MacLeod School of Fiddling” which focuses on the teaching, promotion and preservation of the Glengarry Scottish Fiddle.
As well as performing throughout Eastern Ontario, they have also toured Canada’s East Coast four times where they have performed in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia including the Festival Of Cape Breton Fiddling. In the USA they have performed at the New Hampshire Highland Games, the Scottish Festival in Dundee, New York. For thirteen years in a row they have performed at the Greater Philadelphia Mid-winter Scottish & Irish Festival. In July of 2012 they did a successful two week tour of Scotland. They have recorded three CD's which include “Ceilidh Time” in 2005 and Glengarry Roots” in 2010 and just newly released “Passion For Fiddling” 2018.
The group will be performing on Friday in the Youth Fiddlers Showcase and on Saturday at the afternoon Scottish Fiddle Concert in the arena hall. They are under the direction of teacher & instructor Ian R. MacLeod.
The Students Of David MacPhee
The students of David MacPhee come from many different backgrounds ranging from descendants of the first settlers here to recent arrivals, all bound by a common love of our local musical culture. They are generous with their time and talents, performing at many community functions throughout the year, either as soloists, a group or as part of a larger group. They recorded a CD in 2018 entitled “Tunes From Auld Glengarry”.
The group will be performing Friday during the Youth Fiddlers Showcase and on Saturday in the afternoon Scottish Fiddle Concert in the arena hall. They are under the direction of David MacPhee.
Kelsey & Cassie McDonell
Kelsey and Cassie McDonell are a multi talented sister duo with deep musical roots in their native Glengarry. From majestic slow airs to marches, jigs and reels their music captivates their audiences wherever they play. They have also performed with The MacLeod Fiddlers, Scotch River Fiddles and Kelsey currently plays with the Celtic group Fridge Full Of Empties. These lassies, with their high energy performances are an integral part of the Saturday afternoon Scottish Fiddle Concert.
Contact Info: If you are interested in participating with The Glengarry Massed Fiddlers at The Glengarry Highland Games go to The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall Of Fame website for tune sets & practices. If you are interested in participating in The Scottish Youth Fiddlers Showcase or for more information on all Scottish Fiddle events, please contact Ian R. MacLeod at 613-525-4096.