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WELCOME! I hope you enjoy my photos & storiesFor additional Shona McMillan pages see:
WRITING & PHOTOS http://www.myspace.com/shona_M_mcmillan
MUSIC & PHOTOS http://www.myspace.com/shonaMmcmillan
FISHER FOLK UK project http://www.myspace.com/fisherfolkuk
My Background I grew up in the cultural mix of Edinburgh, Scotland's Capital City; Fisherrow, a fishing village swallowed up by Musselburgh in East Lothian and Kinlochbervie, "KLB" a small North West Highland village. Abroad, I've lived in Galway, Seattle, Vancouver, Rome and Quimper. ..
Music Biography"Shona is a self-taught fiddle player who learnt to play by ear in sessions with Edinburgh’s Shetland Fiddlers Association. Beginning in her late twenties, she won a scholarship from Alasdair Fraser and SKY TV to America where she played with Willie Hunter from Shetland and Buddy MacMaster from Cape Breton. Travelling on to Canada, Shona guested with the Waterboys before journeying to Ireland with Martin Hayes and learning from: John Sheahan the Dubliners, Steve Wickham the Waterboys and Gerry O’Connor La Lugh." [Fiddler Magazine 2008]
My InterestsMy favourite interests are photography, writing, painting and music. I sing, play fiddle, guitar, mandolin, cello and through music have visited many countries and lived abroad both as a music student and in a professional working capacity. I didn't learn the fiddle at school but taught myself to play and because of this, I can read music but find it a slower process. So, how did I learn? At 26 I had been taking photos of a newly started band "Runrig" at my college when guitarist Malcolm Jones set me a challenge to mend a broken fiddle and teach myself the "Jig of Slurs" in three weeks... and with that I was hooked! In Edinburgh, through the Shetland Fiddlers Association, the West End Hotel, Hebrides Bar and Green Tree I joined in sessions and gained a lasting appreciation for trad music in all it's forms. Fascinated to learn more, I found opportunities to travel and gather tunes, songs and stories from source. I soaked up music from around Scotland and travelled abroad as often as I could. Now today, the people I look forward to meeting (old friends and new) are people who share similar musical tastes, creative hobbies and interests. Those who enjoy travel, the outdoors, the sea, rivers and hills. Positive people who share my 'Glass half-full' outlook on life :-)