Ian MacLeod

From Glengarryceltic

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.

    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.   
    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. 

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.

    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.  
    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.                    
    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.