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| - | Ian has deep roots in his native Glengarry where he owns and operates a sixth generation dairy farm at KirkHill along with his wife Karen (Higginson) and their three children, Scott, Ashley and Brad. He is the son of Alexander and Helen MacLeod. | + | [[Image:Ian_MacLeod.jpg|right|thumb|150px]]Ian has deep roots in his native [[Glengarry]], where, along with his wife Karen and their three children, Scott, Ashley and Brad, he owns and operates a sixth generation dairy farm. He is the son of Alexander and Helen (Nixon) MacLeod. |
| - | Listening to his mother playing records of many renowned fiddlers and being taken to various Scottish concerts at a young age enabled Ian to pick out some familiar tunes on the piano by ear. At the age of nine, his uncle James Nixon lent him a fiddle. It was then that he started taking Scottish fiddle lessons from Malcolm Dewar at the old community hall in Maxville. Before long, Ian was entertaining at local concerts. His debut performance was at the renowned “MacCrimmon Hall.” At age 10, he entered his first fiddle competition put on by the Glengarry Historical Society and won 1st Place in the 12 and under category, winning the “Little Jack MacDonald Memorial Trophy.” In the years that followed he won the “Father MacPhail Trophy,” “Historical Society Trophy” and the “Johnny Mooring Trophy.” In 1972 and 1973 Ian won the Eastern Ontario Junior Fiddle Championship held at Merrickville, ON. Those were the first of many awards he received as a young competitive fiddler. Ian also learned to expand his musical repertoire by taking lessons from Sid Plomadon, who taught the “Old Time” style.
| + | Ian has generously shared his musical talents for close to forty years, playing fiddle or piano at concerts, dances, charities and at nursing homes and fairs etc. in Glengarry and beyond. |
| - | For years, Ian has devoted much of his time entertaining at countless concerts, dances, fairs and nursing homes. He is often called upon to play at funerals and weddings in Glengarry and beyond. He has been instrumental in organizing music for fundraisers, charities and other events. Ian’s musical diversity has also enabled him to play backup fiddle or piano for Celtic and country bands.
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| - | He has composed over thirty tunes, many of which have been played by local individuals and groups. Several of his compositions appear in the Canadian Fiddle Music Book Vol. 2. He has played with, and been closely associated with the Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers and the Glengarry Strathspey and Reel Society.
| + | For many years he was a solid performer at fiddle competitions throughout Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes bringing home many awards. [[Image:IanMacLeodNews.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Gregory MacCulloch, Kimberly Clare, '''Ian MacLeod''' and Darrel MacLeod at the 11th annual Old Time Fiddlers contest at GDHS.]]His varied style of fiddling includes Scottish, Irish, Old Time, Country and Gospel. This has given him the diversity to play with Celtic groups such as [[The Brigadoons]] and backup fiddle with country bands. Over the years Ian has also played with and been closely associated with The [[Glengarry Strathspey and Reel Society]] and the [[Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers]]. |
| - | Because of his workload on the farm and his obligations to his young family, it would be difficult for Ian to keep up with all the fiddle engagements, but that would bring him to his new destination. It wasn’t long before the phone calls would come in from people seeking his expertise for fiddle lessons. With much persuasion he began teaching in 1994 at the farmhouse. This would be the beginning of Ian’s greatest musical achievement. He currently teaches close to fifty students a year and his venue has become known as the “MacLeod School of Fiddling,” which focuses on “the promotion and preservation of the Glengarry Scottish Fiddle.” His students, known as “The MacLeod Fiddlers” have performed at many local events, been highlighted at the Glengarry Highland Games, participated at the ‘Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling’ in St. Ann’s, Nova Scotia and 2008 will mark the fifth performance at the ‘Mid Winter Scottish and Irish Festival’ in Philadelphia. In 2005 he produced a recording of his students entitled “Ceilidh Time” which contains nine of his own compositions.
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| - | As well as maintaining a very busy teaching schedule, he is also very involved in managing his daughter Ashley’s musical career and has helped her produce two CDs, “From the Heart of Glengarry” in 2002 and “Hold Fast” in 2006.
| + | In 1994 Ian started teaching a venue that has become known as the “MacLeod School of Fiddling” which focuses on the ‘promotion and preservation’ of the Glengarry Scottish fiddle. He teaches 50 students yearly and since its inception well over 100. His students have performed as groups and/or individually at many local functions and they have been a highlight at the [[Glengarry Highland Games]]. [[Image:Ceilidh_time.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The MacLeod Fiddlers CD]]He has taken his young group to places like the “Mid-Winter Scottish and Irish Festival” in Philadelphia for the past three years. |
| - | Ian has also been a faithful member of KirkHill United Church were he is an Elder, Chairman of the Official Board and a trustee. He has been a member and president of Laggan Recreation Association and a minor soccer coach for years.
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| | + | Then in 2004 the children were involved in an exchange program with other fiddle students from Cape Breton. The young group performed at the “Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling” at St. Ann’s Gaelic College. Ian is playing an important role in keeping the bond alive between Glengarry and the Cape Breton fiddlers. |
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| | + | Teaching has not been Ian’s only commitment; over the last fifteen years he has composed many tunes. Several of these compositions appear in the ''Canadian Fiddle Music Book Vol. 2''. |
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| | + | In the fall of 2005 his senior group recorded a CD entitled ''Ceilidh Time'' which included nine of his compositions. |
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| | + | There is no doubt that Ian has been a cornerstone in ‘preserving the Glengarry Fiddle’ for generations to come. |
Current revision as of 15:51, 10 August 2007
Ian has deep roots in his native
Glengarry, where, along with his wife Karen and their three children, Scott, Ashley and Brad, he owns and operates a sixth generation dairy farm. He is the son of Alexander and Helen (Nixon) MacLeod.
Ian has generously shared his musical talents for close to forty years, playing fiddle or piano at concerts, dances, charities and at nursing homes and fairs etc. in Glengarry and beyond.
For many years he was a solid performer at fiddle competitions throughout Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes bringing home many awards.
Gregory MacCulloch, Kimberly Clare,
Ian MacLeod and Darrel MacLeod at the 11th annual Old Time Fiddlers contest at GDHS.
His varied style of fiddling includes Scottish, Irish, Old Time, Country and Gospel. This has given him the diversity to play with Celtic groups such as
The Brigadoons and backup fiddle with country bands. Over the years Ian has also played with and been closely associated with The
Glengarry Strathspey and Reel Society and the
Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers.
In 1994 Ian started teaching a venue that has become known as the “MacLeod School of Fiddling” which focuses on the ‘promotion and preservation’ of the Glengarry Scottish fiddle. He teaches 50 students yearly and since its inception well over 100. His students have performed as groups and/or individually at many local functions and they have been a highlight at the
Glengarry Highland Games.
He has taken his young group to places like the “Mid-Winter Scottish and Irish Festival” in Philadelphia for the past three years.
Then in 2004 the children were involved in an exchange program with other fiddle students from Cape Breton. The young group performed at the “Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling” at St. Ann’s Gaelic College. Ian is playing an important role in keeping the bond alive between Glengarry and the Cape Breton fiddlers.
Teaching has not been Ian’s only commitment; over the last fifteen years he has composed many tunes. Several of these compositions appear in the Canadian Fiddle Music Book Vol. 2.
In the fall of 2005 his senior group recorded a CD entitled Ceilidh Time which included nine of his compositions.
There is no doubt that Ian has been a cornerstone in ‘preserving the Glengarry Fiddle’ for generations to come.
