Lori MacMaster

2023, Inductee

For over 40 years Lori MacMaster has contributed to the Celtic tradition of Glengarry through music, dance and teaching step dancing to hundreds of students.

Born to Rene and Sherrill (Ferguson) Trottier in 1964, she moved with her family to Dunvegan in 1971. The entire family was such a gift to Glengarry! With Sherrill at the piano, Rene on the fiddle and with her sisters, Kelli and Traci they shared their dancing and singing expertise throughout the County.

Lori started step dancing lessons at 6 years of age and by age 13 she was teaching. There have been well over 30 annual Trottier-MacMaster recitals at Laggan Public School where the proceeds were always donated to charities including the Canadian Cancer Society, CHEO and the Glengarry Memorial Hospital. Lori and her students have entertained at fundraising events, The Glengarry Highland Games, the Bonnie Glen, St. Raphael’s Galarama, Plowing Matches, Upper Canada Village, parties at Maxville Manor, local fairs, the Dunvegan Museum and the annual at the Sacred Heart Church.

Lori and her sisters preformed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Together with the MacLeod Fiddlers they have performed many shows including The Greater Philadelphia Mid-Winter Celtic Festival in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Lori’s impact on the Celtic music scene is immense. Her introduction of step dancing which had all but disappeared is on par with Cape Breton and Scotland.

In 1988 Lori married Earl MacMaster and they live west of Laggan. They have two children, Graham and Braelyn, who continues to carry on the tradition of teaching step dancing.

Having touched the lives of many, Lori has made Glengarry proud and is indeed a worthy inductee into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.

Inducted in 2023

Category:   Dancers, Teachers