| - | Although the fiddle was still being played in Glengarry in the mid seventies, the music was not the Celtic style of the past. In September, 1977, The GS&RS was formed by Allan MacPhail to revive the music of his ancestors - the Celtic/ Glengarry music. Allan asked some musicians known to him and of course, related to him, to come together as a group to be prepared to play when asked. These founding members were Cliff Britton, Catherine Olive De Freitas, Lorne Lawson, Alana MacPhail, Duncan (the Farmer) McDonald, Hugh Allan MacMillan, Allan MacPhail, Donald Joseph MacPhee, Lucien Ranger and Rev. Bruce Ross. This project would require regular practising and choosing music that would be true to the music of their Glengarry ancestors. The group was an immediate success and played throughout our area, in the states, and in Cape Breton where the tartan jackets are still remembered and the fiddlers’ talents respected. Their first record, “The Violins of the Glengarry Strathspey & Reel Society” sold out quickly as did their second, a tape, “A Glengarry Gathering.” Their willingness and ability to play slow airs and “church music” made them popular at the Kirking of The Tartan, where they still play each year. Over the years some members left , others died and new ones joined. Some of those who have played with the group over the years were Gary Cooper, Brian MacLean, , Darryl MacLeod, Ian MacLeod, Finlay McDonell and Don Pettigrew. Others who joined later and are still playing are Neil MacDonell, Duncan (Dougie) MacDonald, Donaldson MacLeod David MacPhee, Bernard McDonell , Jackie Smith and Coral Young.
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| - | In addition to their playing, member, Donald MacPhee was called on to “fill in for a few weeks” to teach Celtic fiddle at night at Glengarry District High School. Then, when the school board ceased sponsoring the fiddle lessons, the GS&RS stepped in and they have been doing so ever since. For over 25 years, fiddle lovers gather twice a week at GDHS in Alexandria to learn to play the instrument . While most are seniors, there are some younger ones who also take on the challenge. It is thanks to the GS& RS that this option is available to them. The group also sponsors a fiddle workshop each year which attracts fiddlers from Ottawa and the states as well as our local fiddlers. They use local fiddlers such as Ian MacLeod and also bring in musicians from all over. In the past they had Ron Gonella from Scotland, Ed Pearlman from Boston and many from Cape Breton. For the past several years, they have presented bursaries to graduates at G.D.H.S. who have shown an active interest in playing the fiddle and in particular, playing the Celtic style; in addition, they have helped out young fiddlers who went down to CB to study their Celtic style.
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| - | This year, in celebration of their 30 th anniversary, they released a CD entitled Tapadh Leat. The intent of the CD was not only the celebration of their anniversary and a thank you to their supportors, but also, to celebrate the continuance of the tradition of fiddle music as played in the Glengarry style. As with previous recordings, it was well received and is selling very quickly. Other groups now play Celtic music, but the GS&RS has continued to keep to the roots of its heritage, music played as their ancestors played it. </nowiki>
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