Ali McCan:
Ali took up the violin at the age of 8 and spent her formative years improving her sight reading in various orchestras around the south east of England as well as playing the piano, recorder and tin whistle for and in and with a range of groups. Eventually she decided to study languages instead, and spent time living in Germany and China, still singing, playing and then learning the erhu, before settling down in Surrey where her day job involves teaching mainly German and the odd bit of French to the teenagers of Leatherhead. She still plays a lot of classical music, including leading the second violins for the Dorking Philharmonia, but has always loved folk music and got involved in playing for Scottish dancing several years ago via the excellent RSCDS musicians’ day schools. Finally she was poached for Craigellachie when Ian ran one of the workshops and now really enjoys fiddling with the band whenever she is allowed to.
Ali is also a fine exponent of the tine whistle which we now use at dances for some ‘special’ sets. Here she is playing a set of Irish jigs. If you want to hear mre head to our YouTube channel.