MEET IT'S NO' REEL CEILIDH BAND
TOM HARROLD | Keyboard / Caller / Manager
Born in Glasgow, Tom has enjoys a varied, dynamic career as a freelance musician, composer, and teacher. He won the BBC Proms Young Composer of the Year when he was just 16, and has gone on to have his music performed across the globe. He gained undergraduate and Masters degrees at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he is now an Associate Member. Tom is also a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, and teaches across the UK, too. Tom is an exceptionally experienced caller: from parties of Scottish dancers, leading the Hogmanay Ceilidh at Glasgow's o2 Academy, calling for over 1000 foreign dancers at an open-air gig and everything else in-between, Tom’s done it all and guarantees to make the ceilidh as fun as possible for all ages. Tom is also a Guinness World Record holder!
SCOTT HARROLD | Drums
Scott’s drumming career began aged 10 when he was given his first drumkit for Christmas. He initially studied drums and percussion with Lachlan Birch, and after performing with numerous bands and ensembles he continued his studies at Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Scott has had masterclasses with Mark Ronson, Guy Chambers, Billy Ocean, Natasha Bedingfield and Sir Paul McCartney, to name but a few, and his world-renowned tutors have included Dave Hassell, Luke Flowers, and Peter Fairclough. Scott’s fusion of traditional ceilidh drumming with lots of funky moments is guaranteed to keep your guests on their feet the whole night.
GRAHAM MACKENZIE | Fiddle
Graham is from Inverness and began playing the violin at the age of six. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and recently gained a Masters in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Traditional music has been one of Graham’s main interests from an young age. He was twice a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, as well as being a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, which was broadcast live on Radio Scotland and televised for BBC Alba. He has most recently performed with folk septet, The Old Dance School as part of their Scottish tour, The Undivided, a folk/jazz fusion project fronted by Mike McGoldrick and Neil Yates during Celtic Connections 2014 and with Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall.
GEORGE SMITH | Fiddle
George began learning to play the violin at the age of ten. He studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Bill Chandler and Ruth Crouch. During his studies George played in masterclasses with Midori, Christian Tetzlaff, Daniel Rowland, Ilya Gringolts, Barnabas Keleman and Katalin Kokas.
George has performed across the UK and further afield as a chamber musician, soloist and Scots fiddle player. Notable performances include a Vivaldi Concerto performance with Camerata Scotland at the Scottish Parliament, and James MacMillan's ‘From Ayrshire’ for Solo Violin and Orchestra under the baton of the composer. He regularly works with non-classical musicians, collaborating with artists including Poacher & Ghillie, Samoyed, Architeq. George freelances with Scottish orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Paragon Ensemble.
George teaches at various institutions across Scotland and is regularly invited to give workshops and masterclasses on Scottish music.
RORY MATHESON | Keys
Assynt-born piano player, BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist Rory Matheson was brought up through the rich musical heritage of the North West. Growing up playing the accordion, he changed his hand to the piano during his teenage years, and found a passion for accompaniment.
Rory’s style is heavily influenced by the music of the Highlands and islands, with elements of jazz and blues also influencing his approach to traditional music, creating a powerful and sympathetic rhythm player.
Having only recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rory has already toured throughout Europe, U.S.A and Australia.
CHARLIE STEWART | Fiddle
Charlie is a fiddle and bass player from Glenfarg, currently based in Glasgow. Having gained the title of Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017, Charlie has also won a Danny Kyle award as part of the duo ‘Ross Miller and Charlie Stewart’, and reached the semi-finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2016 playing with the harpist Becky Hill.
GORDON DUNCAN | Fiddle
A graduate of the RSAMD, Gordon enjoys a varied freelance career throughout Scotland. He also works for Sistema Scotland.
DAVID MUNN | Keys / Caller
Keyboardist and caller extraordinaire. A graduate at Glasgow University and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and currently works for Sistema Scotland
PETE MURCH | Drums / Caller
A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
DAN THORPE | Fiddle / Caller
A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Daniel Thorpe was the 2010 BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year. He was born and brought up in the North East of Scotland and has been involved with music since a very young age
MUSICIANS WE PLAY WITH