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Pianist, composer and arranger Mhairi Hall was born and brought up in Aviemore, Strathspey which lies in the heart of the central Highlands of Scotland. Mhairi was classically trained on the piano however, at a young age was drawn to traditional Scottish music and has developed a unique style of playing both lead and accompaniment. She released her debut album Cairngorm with her own trio in 2009 to overwhelming success, and has since been playing extensively, crossing genres and impressing audiences far and wide. Recent performances by the trio at concerts and festivals home and abroad have been described as dynamic, exhilarating and insightful and gloriously uplifting. She is joined in her trio by Fraser Stone on drum kit, and Michael Bryan on acoustic guitar. The three musicians have played together for many years and combined create a rich, powerful and clear sound, which draws on many emotional qualities and is soulfully reflected through their music. Mhairi Hall Trio and Cairngorm is produced by Dónal Lunny. This years main musical collaboration is between Mhairi's Trio, Patsy Reid and The Edinburgh Quartet. In January they performed a newly written piece by Mhairi and Patsy called 'Contours of Cairngorm' in the City Halls, Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections. The Trio are looking forward to further developing this and have several performances planned for 2012. Mhairi is also a highly successful arranger and session musician working with a variety of different singers and musicians. Mhairi was appointed Musical Director for a specially commissioned show at the Blas Festival called Jacobites. A historical musical journey from the 1745 uprising through to post-Culloden, also featuring Dr Margaret Bennett, Fiona J. MacKenzie, Rachel Walker and Duncan Chisholm. The concert took place in The Culloden Centre and received great reviews. Mhairi performs regularly with stunning fiddler Lauren MacColl (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2005) and the MacCollective. In 2008 they recorded Lauren’s second album Strewn with Ribbons. Mhairi is also involved in arranging and performing in Patsy Reid’s Bridging the Gap, a commission for Celtic Connections, which blends the genres of classical and traditional music. Bridging the Gap received Scottish Arts Council Tune Up funding to go on tour. As well as performing and recording Mhairi is a dedicated freelance teacher. She regularly tutors sound engineering and production at Plockton National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. She has also taught piano in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Strathclyde University, Irish World Academy of Music, Lews Castle College Benbecula and throughout Feisean in Scotland. | ||||||||||||||
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