Alexander and Christina Watt were definitely a musical duo, he an accomplished fiddler and she, a piano music teacher. A cousin recalls that a parties could go on their house till the wee hours of the morning, visitors playing until time to go home for chores.
Kahlil Cappuccino was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1970. At the age of 5, he moved with his family to Glengarry County, Ontario – a place perhaps best known for hosting the North American Pipe Band Championships.
Gilbert Richard Duncan Young has been a long time contributor for over 60 years to the Glengarry Highland Games both as a performer and as the leader of pipe band activities which are the highlight of the Games where he has served as Director of Bands. As such he has had a major impact on Celtic Music in Glengarry.
Bill Vipond was raised on a farm in Summerstown front, Glengarry County where he began to sing in the Salem church choir. His love of music soon found him singing at weddings which he really enjoyed.
The Clansmen were formed in 1973 under the direction of Sylvester MacDonald. This was one of very few Scottish dance bands in Glengarry at the time and they would change the way dance music would be played in the area for many years to come.
Duncan Donald MacSweyn, known to all as Duncie, was born in 1871, in the former Kenyon Township, now North Glengarry, in a community on the Dunvegan Road known as Cotton Beaver. It was obvious from his teenage years that he had a great deal of natural talent.
Duncan Alexander Macdonell was a major promoter of Scottish and Celtic Music in Glengarry for nearly 30 years. He was born in St Raphael’s to Angus Alexander Macdonell and Marjorie MacKenzie.
Drawn to Glengarry by the music and the people, Gerry has shared his Irish musical heritage with the county for over 40 years and is a worthy nominee for the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.
At a very early age, Ellen Cameron, became interested in Highland dancing. Her first teacher, Mary Saunders, immediately saw her potential. Once she had mastered the basics, Ellen began competing in local competitions where she won numerous local awards.
Hughie’s family roots in Glengarry go back to the late 1790s. He grew up with eight sisters and five brothers on the family farm near Martintown. His father, William, had a great influence on Hugh, teaching him to play the guitar at the age of six. His siblings recall that there was always music in the house and their mother, Margaret Kennedy, frequently would dance with the children in the kitchen.