Born out of a one-off performance at the Niel Gow Festival in Dunkeld, Perthshire in March 2007, this duo is a new venture which features the unlikely combination of piano, fiddle and percussion. Fiddle playing largely influenced by the Scottish tradition (with a few English gems thrown in!) meets virtuosic piano-playing that knows no bounds. Crossed with percussion from around the globe, the resulting sound is colourful, rich in variety, and highly original.
Despite having a string of letters after her name in recognition of her percussion playing, Sarah’s other passion, the fiddle, dates back to the age of six. She was the first to study traditional music at the RNCM, taught by Catriona Macdonald. As a freelance player she has worked as a percussionist with several top UK orchestras, including The Hallé Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, and the OAE, and also with Jim Moray. Increasingly asked to combine her rather unique skills as percussionist and fiddler, recent work as a marimba soloist with the New English Orchestra resulted in her taking fiddle music to the Salzburg Festival.
Diversity is the game in Olly’s career. As a jazz pianist he has played with Andy Sheppard, Bob Mintzer and Matthew Herbert; and his classical piano credits include the prestigious Live Music Now! programme and accompanying work for the BBC and Hallé Youth Ensembles. Olly is also a prolific arranger and director – with jazz-folk crossover phenomenon The Maerlock Big Band numbered among his recent exploits.
Both Sarah and Olly are resident in Manchester, UK, and play with The Maerlock.
