MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2015: Gillian Fleetwood

Congratulations to Gillian Fleetwood who have been nominated in Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2015. Vote now!

We asked Gillian Fleetwood of Gillian Fleetwood the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
I am a clarsach player and singer with an enthusiasm for exploring and transmitting the ways in which we can nurture our traditions (mostly music and song, but not exclusively) while learning to use them as vehicles for self expression.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I’m involved in Scottish music because I am fortunate to have benefited from some great opportunities in my life so far. These opportunities have made me understand and value the importance of the music we are lucky to have inherited in Scotland. I love it!
I also know that I am very lucky to have great teachers along the way, and hope I can contribute to the forwarding of the music, as well as hopefully bringing enjoyment to individuals.

Any particular career highlights?
I love adventuring, and so consider most of my career highlights to have been the situations where I have been invited to perform and tour in loads of exciting, beautiful and eye-opening scenarios. These things have allowed me to broaden my horizons in a way which I hope I can communicate through my own music and teaching style.
Touring the international harp festival circuit with my duo partner Fraya Thomsen has allowed me to bring Scottish harp and songs to Australia, many corners of Europe, Mexico, Brazil and the USA over the last few years.

What are your plans for the future?
2015 was a year of writing, arranging, researching, planning and recording, so 2016 should see the release of albums by The Duplets, State Broadcasters and my newest musical partnership, Henry and Fleetwood. There is also a very new venture called Questio Io, which is cooking up nicely. I terms of my teaching, I hope to finally finish my harp tuition book! I work with some really fantastic teaching organisitions so I hope to continue honing my teaching skills as I love meeting new teaching challenges. There are always creative new ways to respond to the various challenges brought forth by music tuition and I really enjoy learning to adapt and communicate successful solutions so that all people can enjoy and benefit from music.

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Dundee’s Caird Hall call the Caird Hall box office on (01382) 434940 or buy online.