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At Common Ground you will find tutors of the highest calibre. Not only is there quality, but quantity. Tutors are encouraged to be students in other classes and to be invovled in concerts, sessions and other informal activities. The course schedule and tutors for 2008 is still under development. This listing includes most of the tutors who have been with us in previous year. We expect many of them to be with us in the coming years. Pete
Clark - Fiddle
Short Tutor Biographies Charlie Collyer & Pam Zappardino Drs. Pamela H. Zappardino and Charles E. Collyer are nonviolence educators and trainers with a long history of activism. They studied and continue to work with Dr. Bernard LaFayette, who was a member of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s executive staff, and is today's principal spokesperson for Kingian nonviolence. More information on Charlie & Pam Ellen Elmes Is a watercolorist and mural painter and is a full-time art instructor at SW Virginia Community College in Richlands, VA and has taught watercolor classes internationally. Walt Michael Considered to be a virtuoso of tremendous influence in the revival of the hammered dulcimer, Walt's wide repertoire ranges from old-time Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to original compositions. Walt was the main source of inspiration behind the founding of Common Ground Scotland. As a student during the 1960's at Western Maryland College, Walt went to Appalachia with the Student Opportunities Service to do community action work and to parts of the Deep South to take part in voter registration campaigns. Whilst working with America's poor and disenfranchised, he encountered the power and beauty of traditional music. For the past thirty years Walt has led a variety of musical ensembles, performing throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. While teaching a course in roots music during the January Term at WMC in 1993, Walt conceived the idea for Common Ground on the Hill. As its Executive and Artistic Director, he leads Common Ground on the Hill towards its stated goal of seeking racial and cultural harmony through the arts. More information on Walt
Bharati Bundhoo One of the more unusual musical collaborations last year was a short concert set from Bharati Bundhoo and Heather Heywood. Bharati is from Mauritius and now lives next door to Heather in Kilmarnock, their immediate common ground was a love of traditional song. Bharati intends to return to Common ground next year with a fuller line up of Asian musicians. Bharati teaches at the Scottish Academy of Asian Arts in Glasgow More information on Bharati
Tom Smith Tom left home in 1972 and spent the next 16 years traveling around Britain and Europe, busking and playing with Celtic bands including Shegui. Tom plays mandolin and octave mandola. Together with Brian Connolly and Jim Byrne, Tom played together in Irish band Croabh Rua. Brian is still 'the main man' in the group. They are one of the most in-demand Irish groups in folk circles in America. They've been called "the ultimate seisun band." More information on Croabh Rua
Claire Mann Claire comes from Newcastle Upon Tyne in the north east of England and is currently residing in Edinburgh. She started playing the fiddle in school at the age of 8, and taught herself the tin whistle and flute at the ages of 10 and 12 respectively. Despite taking up the flute at a later date she excels on this instrument having won the All Ireland Flute Championships in the consecutive years of 1993 and 1994. She has also won All Irelands on the whistle and been finalist on fiddle and singing. In the past six years she has won over 80 medals in Fleadh Cheoils and was a finalist in the prestigious BBC Radio 2's Young Tradition Award in 1993. More information on Claire
Aaron Jones was born in Poole in England. Encouraged by a musical family from Northern Ireland, he took up the Bouzouki at the age of sixteen. He currently resides in Edinburgh. With over ten years as a professional musician under his belt, Aaron has earned invaluable gig and recording experience. He has toured worldwide with artists such as Craobh Rua, Seelyhoo, The Sandy Brechin Band, Iron Horse, Keep It Up, Burach, Tabache, Leo McCann, Dibidil, Davy Steele, Claire Mann and Urbn Ri More information on Aaron
Frank is from Lanarkshire, Glasgow. He was introduced to the music scene at an early age, playing in pipebands since the age of 9. He came from a very musical background - his father also being an accomplished musician. He then crossed over to traditional music, playing in sessions in Scotland an Ireland, and winning various competitions along the way. Since those early days Frankie has played in various bands including sBeggar's Row, the Gaelum and alongside Sean O'Rourke and Chuck Flemming. More recently he has played with Maggie McInnes, and with Alison Brown Quartet at Celtic Connections. Currently, Frank teaches at Newcastle University Traditional Music course, does outreach work with the Orbiston Arts Centre and is busy with his band Lyra Celtica. More information on Frank
Alistair Hulett was born in Glasgow and discovered traditional music in his early teens. In 1968 he and his family moved to New Zealand where he established a reputation on the folk circuit with his large repertoire of songs and his interpretation of the big narrative ballads. In 1971, at the age of eighteen, Alistair moved over to Australia and played sucessfully for many years in both the folk and punk scenes in and around Sydney. Alistair's first solo CD, "Dance of the Underclass" 1991, which is completely acoustic, was instantly hailed as a folk classic. His song "He Fades Away" was picked up by Roy Bailey, June Tabor and Andy Irvine.Alistair, now based once again in Glasgow, continues to work solo and with Dave Swarbrick with whom he has forged a hugely successful musical partnership. More information on Alistair
Rick Lee - Piano, Sessionmaster: Rick Lee is a Massachusetts based old-time banjo and piano player, singer and songwriter. He has been a part of the New England music scene for forty years. Rick was born in New York City, and moved to rural Texas as a two-year-old. He was greatly influenced by his Tennesee-born grandfather who sang mountain ballads and hymns, and by hearing his mother and grandmother playing piano together. Rick learned the basics of piano as a child, and with the encouragement of his family, began playing banjo in his teens. He set traditional narratives to banjo and keyboard accompaniment, and later composed his own tunes and songs. Through the years, Rick has become known for his dedication to finding wonderful songs from diverse sources and bringing them together seamlessly to form a rich tapestry of varying moods, colors and textures in his live shows and his recordings. He's well known for enticing numerous fellow musicians to his Massachusetts home by offering exotic soups and dynamite jam sessions. In "Rick's Room," everyone is encouraged to play their favorite tunes and songs enough times through so that each player can learn the changes and find a harmonious part to contribute. Rick has introduced 'Rick's Room' to Common Ground as the late night 'sessionmaster'. More information on Rick
Margaret Bennett Originally from the Isle of Skye, Margaret comes from a long line of traditional singers, pipers and storytellers - Gaelic on her mother's side and Lowland Scots on her father's. As one of the world's foremost authorities on Scottish Folklore, she is featured in several films, TV documentaries and on radio. Margaret has an MA in Folklore and a PhD in Ethnology and currently holds an honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Glasgow School of Scottish and Celtic Studies. A prizewinning author, she has published several books and numerous articles and, as the great Scottish folklorist Hamish Henderson wrote, "There can be few scholars on either side of the Atlantic, who succeed in combining such a wide range of skills as Margaret Bennett. A folksinger of great sensitivity and versatility, she is undoubtedly one of the major figures of the modern Scottish Revival.... Margaret embodies all that is best of the spirit of Scotland." More information on Margaret
Pete Clark Pete was born in Dunfermline, Fife, where he was taught fiddle by the late Harry Grant of Saline, a great teacher who embraced both traditional and classical music with equal enthusiasm. Pete's first professional engagements, while he was a student, were with well-known accordionist the late Bert Shorthouse. Throughout the '80's he travelled to festivals throughout Europe with Fife-based folk group "Heritage". Currently Pete lives in Perthshire where he is very much involved with teaching fiddle, both locally in Dunkeld and further afield. Present commitments include teaching at the RSAMD in Glasgow as part of the degree course in traditional music and Sunday afternoon fiddle workshops as part of a community education initiative in Kennoway, Fife. He has previously presented workshops and masterclasses at the annual Fiddle event in Edinburgh, and for The European String Teachers Association (ESTA). Most weekends find him busy with one or other of the ceilidh bands with whom he works. In concert he performs solo and with his own band, The Niel Gow Ensemble. He also frequently features in Dougie MacLean's band, performs in duo with singer Rod Paterson, has been guest soloist with the BT Scottish Ensemble and does work for the Council for Music in Hospitals. More information on Pete Clark
Heather Heywood Within Scotland, Heather is widely recognized as one of the finest singers of her generation. Ask any singer to name a favorite among their peers, and the name of Heather Heywood will come up time and time again. She brings a spirit and commitment to the songs that engage an audience in a way that only great singers can, and she has gained the genuine respect of many of the folk world's best performers. More information on Heather
Ros Plant Ros has a BA (Hons) Creative arts and a PGCE in Music. After leaving college, she co-founded the M.A.D.S. Theatre Trust which took small scale performances and workshops to schools and community venues. As a supervisor of 'Children's House' in Tunbridge Wells, a latch key establishment with a mission statement of 'listening' to children and later a mother of three, she has developed a keen interest in the role of children's play. More information on Ros Chris Hoddinott Chris had a Fine Arts degree from the City and Guilds of London Art School and a post graduate degree from the Glasgow School of Art in Printing. He is a sculptor who uses found and recycled materials and has exhibited widely. He began his work as a community artist at the Gorbels Arts Project. Recently he has just finished an Eco Award project in Sanquhar, creating a Living Willow Dome with children and adults. More information on Chris and Michelle Hoddinott Michelle Hoddinott Michelle has a BA (Hons) in Art and Design from the Glasgow School of Art and a PGCE Secondary (Art). She is an artist, teacher, and administrator and is currently the coordinator for Turning Point Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway. Access Arts is one of her projects that support adults with learning disabilities to participate in art activities and exhibit their work throughout Scotland. More information on Chris and Michelle Hoddinott In my art I try and express the simple and serene, with inspiration coming from prehistoric art anthropormorphic sculptures and functional objects. My work is mostly based on human form. I use a variety of materials including bronze, stone and wood and combine modern and traditional techniques. I was born in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, but then moved to India at a young age to study. I later moved on to stay in Britain where I have remained, I feel that contrasting places where I have lived has greatly influenced my art. More information on Kirty
Anthea Summers Anthea graduated with a BA in fine Art in 1981, she concentrated on painting but by 1989 pottery had become her main interest. She studied for about 5 years at Filton College in Bristol under Ollie Kent and over five summer schools at Bickley learnt how to build kilns and do African bonfiring and began experimenting and teaching with a studio at Artspace, an artists co-operative. Teaching has always been freelance. Anthea has always insisted on 'doing her own thing' to keep the complex view of what she is teaching and essentially keep it an artistic experience. She has taught in schools, groups with a variety of special needs and galleries and even given a demonstration on TV! More information on Anthea
Chris Jones Chris Jones is a qualified teacher and former lecturer in agriculture being involved with the part time training schemes as well as being in charge of adult education courses. Originally from Birmingham, he is settled in Northumberland and has become involved in a wide range of activities. With living history group 'Rent a Peasant' he has retained his interest in agriculture but with added historical content as Romans, Vikings, Saxons, Tudors and Victorians. He accompanies himself for songs ancient and modern on a range of instruments with a handful of unaccompanied songs. Story Telling is another addition to his repertoire together with other anecdotes and comment. He is also a writer of several songs in the folk idiom such as the ' Loss of the Solomon Browne' about the Penlee lifeboat disaster and lately, 'Fires of Hell' written in the middle of the Foot and Mouth epidemic. More information on Chris
Ruth Hicken Ruth Hicken is a member of the Tynedale Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, founder of Textiles Through Time and a qualified teacher. Born and bred in Derbyshire she comes from a line of women skilled in textile arts and literally learnt to knit at her mother's knee. After living in Bristol and Canada she moved to Northumberland and studied History and Medieval English at Newcastle University. Northumberland got under her skin and she never left. History, textiles and the urge to teach led to work with living history group 'Rent a Peasant' in 1996. She teaches textiles in the persona of a Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Medieval peasant. This led to Textiles Through Time, whose aim is to encourage and involve adults and children in spinning, weaving and dyeing, ancient and modern. Ruth delivers a range of activities which may include preparing fleece and spinning yarn with a spinning wheel and drop spindles, weaving bookmarks, snakes and caterpillars and God's Eye Weaving. More information on Ruth
Graeme Gass Graeme has been involved in the folk scene since the mid 1970's as a performer, musician, organiser and promoter and as an archivist in sound and video recordings and as a photographer. His photographic work includes concert shots of Eric Clapton, Ralph McTell, Don McLean, Sharon Shannon, Eddi Reader, Dougie Maclean and numerous folk, jazz, rock and celtic artists. Recent assignments include Ralph McTell's latest concert tour poster and cover photography for Eddie Walker's 'Mind to Ramble' CD. Graeme specialises in available light concert photography, portraiture, landscapes and thematic projects. More information on Graeme Bob Hall was born in London in 1942 into a musical family. His powerful left hand gave him a natural aptitude for boogie woogie, and by his early teens he was leading his first band featuring this vibrant music. The popularity of rhythm'n'blues in the 1960s first brought him to public attention, and gave him an unrivalled opportunity to play and study with many of the giants of blues and boogie woogie. A list of Bob's musical colleagues reads like a who's who of British Blues.
Maggie MacInnes Gaelic Song and Clarsach. Maggie MacInnes is one of Scotland's foremost Gaelic singers and clarsach players. Maggie was born in Glasgow and now lives in Ayrshire. She comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from the small island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and learns most of her songs from her mother the highly acclaimed traditional singer, Flora MacNeil M.B.E. Through her haunting, expressive singing and sympathetic arrangements, Maggie helps to bring the beauties of this music to an ever widening audience. More information on Maggie
Willie Macrae Willie Macrae is head of the only Gaelic Medium Secondary Department in Ayrshire. A native speaker of Gaelic, Willie was brought up mainly in Harris in the Western Isles but completed his school education in Inverness, where he furthered his interest in traditional music at the school folk club. Willie plays anglo- concertina and moothie and can be persuaded occasionally to sing in his native language. As well as teaching term time in Kilmarnock, Willie also tutors at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Skye Gaelic College and teaches evening classes in Kilmarnock. More information on Willie
Maggie Macrae Maggie Macrae comes from a large farming family of numerous singers and entertainers. She first became interested in traditional song and music at the T.M.S.A. Festivals at Kinross in the early seventies. As a teacher Maggie jointly presented a Traditional Singing course at Ayr College. Maggie also founded and still leads the well-known 'Tattiehowkers Ceilidh Band' who are a first choice for dance ceilidhs throughout Ayrshire and beyond. Over the years Maggie has become organiser of Girvan Festival, Kilmarnock Folk Weekend and Kilmarnock Folk Club. Maggie has also written 2 traditional song books and a ceilidh dance instruction book with accompanying cassette for use in East Ayrshire schools. More information on Maggie
John Weatherby - John has provided sound systems and touring support to most of Scotland's major folk festivals and touring artist. For most he is the 'sound man of choice'. He also specialises in live recordings. More information on John
Wattie Lees Wattie grew up in Stranraer, Scotland where he played the Highland pipes at age 9, then took-up the tin whistle and Uillean pipes, developing a keen interest in traditional Irish dance music. |
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