Gerald McGillis began playing the fiddle on his 13th birthday and very quickly discovered his ability to learn any tune by ear after hearing it only a couple of times. Family folklore tells us that by the time his parents returned home from mass on that special day,...
Dr. Donaldson MacLeod can certainly be described as a "Jack of all trades" when referring to our Celtic heritage in general and Glengarry Celtic heritage in particular. Fluent in three languages, English, French and Gaelic, Donaldson, an engineer by profession, is...
John Roy MacDonell was born on the Third Concession of Kenyon in 1902. After losing his mother when he was two years old, he was raised by John & Ellen Kennedy on the fourth of Kenyon. Here he had the opportunity to meet a talented piper and Highland dancer, Neil...
Over the last fifty plus years, Kathy Fraser-Collins has significantly contributed to the Celtic music tradition of Glengarry as a teacher and a performer. Although she doesn't remember learning to play the piano, she gave her first performance at five when she played...
This legendary Glengarry piper was born September 28, 1890 to Donald D. MacLeod and his wife, Mary Ann MacSweyn. As a youngster, he learned to play the fife, accordion, piano and fiddle before he learned to play the bagpipes. He picked up tunes from his uncle, Fred...
Rev. Dawes was born in 1907 in Southampton, England and at the age of six years moved with his family to Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. He was educated at McGill University and in 1930, became an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. Over a period of...
For over thirty years, Denis has been at the forefront of Celtic music in Glengarry. He joined the Brigadoons in 1977 and it soon became apparent to anyone who saw him perform that he was an accomplished vocalist. He sang songs from the “auld sod” that he knew from...
Duncan, “the Farmer,” as he is now known in Glengarry was born and raised on the family farm in Glen Roy. He is the son of John Sander and Ella McDonald. His family was noted for its support of Celtic music and traditions. Duncan came from a musical family of...
The Munro family of Apple Hill were well known throughout the county and beyond for their musical ability. Headed by their father, Phillip Ross Munro and his wife, Catherine, they used to put on completer concerts around the county and area. Phillip and his son Sandy...
Ruthanna MacPherson (nee MacDougall) contributed to the musical heritage of Glengarry for over 60 years. She dedicated an invaluable amount of time to the Celtic music tradition as a solo performer and as an accompanying pianist, organist and accordionist. She...