Meet Us
Conductor
Blair Parham
Blair’s vast experience in music performance has seen him play throughout the country and across the world.
Originally a cellist from a very young age, Blair joined The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra at the age of ten and his love of fiddle music was established. In 1995 he joined The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, and since then has gone on to fill numerous roles within it.
He is honoured to be at the helm of this wonderful orchestra and relishes bringing down the baton at the beginning of every show.
To read Blair’s full biography, click here.
LEADER
June Nelson
June, originally from Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway started to play music from an early age.
First learning to play bagpipes and becoming a member of Moffat Pipe Band and then learning violin.
Before moving to Edinburgh to study music, she played at numerous concerts and events around her local area of Dumfries as well as Lanarkshire.
Music has taken June around Canada and China, as well as most of Europe.
June has a busy schedule of teaching, performing, music consultancy, arranging and adjudicating. Included within these is writing the Traditional Fiddle Syllabus for one of Britain’s examination boards.
June has also had the honour of playing the violin solo at both Belfast and Edinburgh Tattoos, in addition to being leader of Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Stage Band.
June loves playing in the SFO as it has given her many musical experiences and opportunities.
Piper
Daniel Nicol
Originally from Alloway in Ayrshire, Daniel began learning the pipes at the age of five, first taught by his dad before progressing into his local band.
He went on to join Maybole Pipe Band, playing at events in and around Ayrshire and later became the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra’s solo piper, touring with them playing in concerts across the United States and Japan. At that time, he was also competing in a number of solo piping competitions.
Studying at Stirling University, he joined the University Officer Training Corps Pipe Band. During his time with the UOTC Pipe Band, he performed in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Basel Tattoo, and took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
After graduating and moving to Edinburgh, Daniel joined Stockbridge Pipe Band for competing and playing at functions in Edinburgh.
In his words: “I am now delighted to serve as the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra’s solo piper.”
Piper
Martin Duncan
Martin first learned the bagpipes with Queensferry and District Pipe Band while still at primary school. Piping has been an important part of his life ever since.
He played with Vancouver Police Pipe Band whilst living in Canada, and Heriot-Watt University Pipe Band on returning to Edinburgh. He is now a member of Stockbridge Pipe Band and he plays regularly with them at competitions, community events and corporate functions.
As well as being a piper, Martin enjoys playing the fiddle and has been a member of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra as a second violin since 1992.
Orchestra Members
1st Violin
June Nelson (Leader)
Kerry Allison
Amanda Brown
Alastair Buchanan
Julie Carrie
Patricia Carrigan-Key
Celia Chamberlain
John Crozier
Karen Egerton
Sarah-Louise Gillespie
Christopher Gowans
Kirsty Harrower
Lesley Hay
Rachel Henderson
Fiona Kindness
Catriona Love
Sara MacDoka
Anna McCorquodale
Isobel McCrae
Diana McCrone
Satunum McElroy
Rhiannon McGibbon
Elaine McHendry
Catriona McLean
Elisabeth McLay
Sheena Mather
Emily Middleton
Fiona Morison
David Nicholson
Louise Norman
Leanne Sandeman
Judith Semple
Myra Shuttleworth
Aileen Smith
Yla Steven
Amber Thornley
Hilary Turbayne
Wendy Waddell
John Wallace
Ruby Whitaker
Dania Wood
2nd Violin
Alexander Davidson (Principal)
Isla Allison
Christine Anderson
Fiona Anderson
Heather Anderson
Peter Brash
Lesley Brown
Isobel Burnie
Kirsty Carrie
Bob Diament
Susan Donlevy
Mhari Duncan
Martin Duncan
Helen Egan
Isla Ferguson
Cassie Findlay
Rosemary Grady
Catriona Hawthorn
Rachel Home
Joy Hosie
Shona Howes
Di Jevons
Lewis Kelly
Caroline Lambie
Ruth Longmuir
Alister McLean
Ella Rose McMeechan
Andrew Paterson
Shannon Stevenson
Anne Turnbull
Caroline Winn
Kim Wood
Nicola Young
Cello
Rona Porter (Principal)
Susan Arnold
Sally Caunt
Susan Docherty
Eilidh Stewart
Jane Strathearn
Anne Tavendale
Bass
Kirsty Craig (Principal)
James Brodlie
Jamie Mason
David Russell
Angus Burnie
Accordion
Ewan McKenzie (Principal)
Helen Findlay
Scott Leslie
Ed Parkhouse
Amy Pirie
Fred Prise
Alan Ross
Flute
Sheena Anderson (Principal)
Veronica Culling
David Lunt
Elly Priestnall
Accompanist
Fiona Brodlie
ORGANIST
Iain McGlinchey
Percussion
David Brodlie (Principal)
Nathan Bradley
Catriona Duncan
Anna Fettes
Angus Sloan
Rachel Sunter