Fiona Mackenzie 147 connections

Scotland on Sunday review by Norman Chalmers 12-7-
"Another super album from the former holder of the Mari Mhor nan Oran Gaelic Song Fellowship for Highland Council. In this Year of Homecoming, this one looks at songs of exile and emigration. It's all arranged in a tasteful up-to-date way by piano and keyboard player Irwin Duguid. A non-native, learned Gaelic speaker, Mackenzie is now one of the most compelling of our contemporary Gaelic singers, and her partnership with Duguid continues to produce music of real stature, heard here in these powerful, moving traditional songs composed over the last few hundred years. "


The Gaelic Song course in Andalucia was a great success and we look forward to repeating it next year! We even had the Gay Gordons danced flamenco style...in the kilt.......!
Looking forward to the release of my new album 'A good Suit of Clothes ' or 'Deagh Dheis Aodaich' in gaelic, on the greentrax label onthe 1st July. An exciting project which has been a lot ofhard work for me and producer, irvin Duguid, but one which will I hope shake a few feathers out of the nest....
Also contunuing work on The Lasses Reply -a project which profiles 2 young Scottish singers - one in Scots and one in Gaelic - singing the songs of Robert Burns, in Scots AND Gaelic and both of the singers singing BOTH languages! To prove for once and for all that the Scots and gaelic languages CAN live happily side by side! This is a very excitng project with funky arrangements which should appeal to all. Both projects are being produced by Irvin Duguid- and I get to be exec producer for the Burns project - which means I get to make the tea I think! I'd be very interested to hear from anyone/comany with a distribution network for music.

.On graduating from Aberden Uni in 1982 with an MA in Scottish History and Music, I undertook a POst Grad Diploma in Information Science. I then worked as a technical librarian for an oil company in Aberdeen ( Orca Ltd) until 1986. After a career break, I then undertook a Gaelic immersion course at Inverness College - 1996-8 and followed that with 4 years spent as a Classroom Assistant in the Gaelic school in DIngwall, beofre takingup the post I currently work in.
Currently undertaking Certificate in Radio Broadcasting at Moray Firth Radio. New bilingual show will go onstream Summer 2009
One of the few Gaelic singers to have an entry on Wikipedia....

I'm a Gaelic and Scots singer, living in the Highlands of Scotland. I love singing, in any language but Gaelic is my main focus. I love to experiment with different styles for mysongs and want it to become more accessible to folk all over the world whether or not you are interrested in Gaelic or 'folk'
In December 2008 in partnership with Irvin Duguid,and under the umbrella of the brand new company, MacDug Music Ltd, brought about the publication of the Duan Nollaig Gaelic Carol book - a unique publication. 16 songs beautifully arranged for piano, voice and guitar. Traditional and contemporary songs for all ages. alovely Christmas present especially linked to the Duan Nollaig double CD. An exciting projct which was a lot of work but one which will hopefully be of great use to singers, musicians and teachers across the world.
e mail me for more details. See some pics in my albums