Congratulations to James Alexander 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 2017. Vote now!
We asked James Alexander of James Alexander the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I started teaching fiddle in the North East of Scotland in the late 70’s and formed the Fochabers Fiddlers, a group of young musicians aged between 12 and 18, in 1980. The group has completed 7 tours of the USA, 3 tours of western Canada and a number of European countries. In 1999 I formed a group called Frontline which was an offshoot of the mainstream Fochabers Fiddlers and featured the most advanced players, the idea being to undertake more professional gigs eg theatres and festivals etc. This group has gone on to perform at the Royal Albert Hall on 3 occasions raising funds for Cancer Research UK. I taught in Moray schools as an instrumental instructor for 36 years and also taught fiddle privately at a local level and further afield eg as a guest tutor at the Orkney Music Project. Over the years I have been involved in developing scots traditional music through my connnections at the RCS where I was an external specialist examiner on the Scottish Music degree course. I was also the syllabus coordinator for the Trad fiddle exams which are run by the RCS – I have been an examiner for the graded exams since their inception. Over the years I have worked on many albums, as a producer, sound engineer and Session musician.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Being brought up on a small farm in North East Scotland I was exposed to Scottish Music from and early age and witnessed the end of the bothy tradition. I ended up joining in with kitchen sessions and concerts in local halls. I had a particular interest in Scots Trad fiddle music and have enjoyed researching and performing the music of William Marshall of Fochabers and James Scott Skinner, who also spent time in Fochabers. I was aware that Trad fiddle music wasn’t being given its rightful place in our education system and was determined to address this – hence a career of teaching many hundreds (maybe thousands) of young people.
Any particular career highlights?
Playing with the Fochabers Fiddlers at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, performing at Buckingham Palace, receiving an MBE for services to Scottish Music and being inducted in to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
What are your plans for the future?
To continue performing and teaching fiddle at various courses here and abroad and also to continue producing Trad music albums.
Read more about James Alexander
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If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley’s Lagoon Centre call 0300 300 1210 or to buy online visit www.paisley2021.co.uk/events/the-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards. Tickets can also be purchased via Paisley Arts Centre. Bands performing on Saturday 2nd December include Elephant Sessions, The Shee Big Band, Siobhan Miller, Tidelines, Paisley Fèis, Snuffbox, The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience, Lori Watson, Jenna Reid and Harris Playfair, Songs of Bàrd Phàislig (featuring Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, Sìneag MacIntyre, Màiri NicAonghais, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ewan MacPherson, Mhairi Hall, Màiri Nic a Mhaoilein and more to be announced. There will also be a late night ceilidh after the Awards till 1am.
