Fiona Mackenzie
Encyclopedia
Fiona J Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer from Dingwall
in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach
Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.
Mackenzie is a self-employed Gaelic Arts consultant and works throughout Scotland. Between 2002 and May 2009 she worked for the Highland Council as the "Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow", promoting Gaelic song and language throughout the communities of the north of Scotland. As part of her role she organised and managed the young, all girl Gaelic harmony group "Fionnar" who have competed successfully at the Pan Celtic Festival
and the Welsh International Eisteddfod
.
Mackenzie and her husband, Donald, are also members of the Inverness
Gaelic Choir. She also hosts the "Kitchen Ceilidh" on Scottish Internet Radio. In 2008 Mackenzie was selected as one of the Scottish representatives in the Nòs Ùr song competition. In the same year Mackenzie established a new music publishing company along with her husband, Donald.
In April 2009 Mackenzie ran a Gaelic singing course with gold medallist Gillebride Macmillan in Andalusia
, Spain. In July 2009 she adjudicated at the Welsh International Eisteddfod
, including the "Choir of the World competition".
In October 2009 Mackenzie was announced as one of the winners of the "Burnsong International Songwriting Competition".
The recording of Duan Nollaig received several reviews including in the Scotland on Sunday
newspaper. It is a collection of 35 Gaelic Christmas songs and carols and was produced by Irvin Duguid
. In late 2008, Mackenzie released a book containing sixteen of the songs and carols.
In 2009, Mackenzie released her latest album Deagh Dheis Aodaich ("A Good Suit of Clothes"). This collection of Emigrant Songs has been released on the Greentrax label (July 2009).
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach
An Comunn Gàidhealach
An Comunn Gàidhealach , literally The Gaelic Association) is an organisation in Scotland which seeks to promote Scottish Gaelic language and culture, following in the footsteps of the Gaelic Athletic Association or GAA in Ireland....
Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.
Career
In 2004 Mackenzie was voted the BBC Scotland Traditional Music Personality of the Year at the Scottish Trad Music Awards. She was also nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.Mackenzie is a self-employed Gaelic Arts consultant and works throughout Scotland. Between 2002 and May 2009 she worked for the Highland Council as the "Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow", promoting Gaelic song and language throughout the communities of the north of Scotland. As part of her role she organised and managed the young, all girl Gaelic harmony group "Fionnar" who have competed successfully at the Pan Celtic Festival
Pan Celtic Festival
The Féile Pan Cheilteach or Pan Celtic Festival is held in the Republic of Ireland and was first held in 1971 in Killarney, Ireland. It has been held annually in the week following Easter annually since then....
and the Welsh International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
.
Mackenzie and her husband, Donald, are also members of the Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
Gaelic Choir. She also hosts the "Kitchen Ceilidh" on Scottish Internet Radio. In 2008 Mackenzie was selected as one of the Scottish representatives in the Nòs Ùr song competition. In the same year Mackenzie established a new music publishing company along with her husband, Donald.
In April 2009 Mackenzie ran a Gaelic singing course with gold medallist Gillebride Macmillan in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, Spain. In July 2009 she adjudicated at the Welsh International Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
, including the "Choir of the World competition".
In October 2009 Mackenzie was announced as one of the winners of the "Burnsong International Songwriting Competition".
Discography
- Astair (2000)
- Seinn o ho ro Seinn (2003)
- Òrain nan Rosach (2006)
- Duan Nollaig (2007) on Greentrax RecordingsGreentrax RecordingsGreentrax Recordings are a Scottish record label for Celtic and celtic fusion bands.- History :Greentrax Recordings is an Edinburgh-based record label specialising in Scottish traditional music. They were founded in 1986 by former police inspector Ian Green. In 2001 he acquired the license to...
- Deagh Dheis Aodaich (2009) on Greentrax RecordingsGreentrax RecordingsGreentrax Recordings are a Scottish record label for Celtic and celtic fusion bands.- History :Greentrax Recordings is an Edinburgh-based record label specialising in Scottish traditional music. They were founded in 1986 by former police inspector Ian Green. In 2001 he acquired the license to...
The recording of Duan Nollaig received several reviews including in the Scotland on Sunday
Scotland on Sunday
Scotland on Sunday is a Scottish Sunday newspaper, published in Edinburgh by The Scotsman Publications Ltd and consequently assuming the role of Sunday sister to its daily stablemate The Scotsman...
newspaper. It is a collection of 35 Gaelic Christmas songs and carols and was produced by Irvin Duguid
Irvin Duguid
Irvin Duguid is a Scottish musician and composer.He studied piano and violin at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow before going on to become keyboard player in the live line-up of Stiltskin, a rock band with the number 1 hit single "Inside" in the UK in 1994.Duguid went on to...
. In late 2008, Mackenzie released a book containing sixteen of the songs and carols.
In 2009, Mackenzie released her latest album Deagh Dheis Aodaich ("A Good Suit of Clothes"). This collection of Emigrant Songs has been released on the Greentrax label (July 2009).
Published works
- Orain nan Rosach published by the Highland Council (2006)
- Crunluath Collection published by the Highland Council (2006)
- Duan Nollaig Volume 1 published by MacDug Music Limited (2008)