A Little About Us
It’s No’ Reel is made up of four highly-trained, fun and energetic musicians – Colin McKee on fiddle, Tom Harrold on keyboard (also acts as dance caller) and Scott Harrold on drumkit, along with our newest addition to the band, Magnus Maharg on flute. Colin has been playing violin since he was four years old and studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, an institute set up for talented musicians. Here, he studies traditional Scottish music at the RSAMD with various large and small groups. Tom studies piano at the Music School of Douglas Academy, and uses his compositional flair (he won the BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year 2007) in his work with the band. Scott studies percussion and drumkit with Lachie Birch.
People often ask us why we describe ourselves as a “contemporary” ceilidh band, but the answer is simple - our music is an infusion of traditional Scottish ceilidh tunes mixed in with jazzy chords and catchy drumbeats, so please don’t be put off. From experience, our “contemporary” ceilidh arrangements are real crowd-pleasers - they appeal to a far wider audience than that of the more traditional ceilidh band. Just have a listen to our live recordings in the SOUND SAMPLES tab on the left.
Individual Biographies
Tom Harrold - Keyboard, born in Glasgow, Scotland, he studies piano and composition at the Music School of Douglas Academy, a specialist music institute funded by the Scottish Government. This year, Tom has won the BBC PROMS / Guardian Young Composers' Competition. As a result of this, he has had his piece (called "Dance", for percussion sextet and piano) performed at Cadogan Hall, London, as part of the 2007 BBC PROMS series by "Endymion", and this was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 24th August of this year. As part of this, the BBC have commissioned Tom for a new work for the 2008 BBC PROMS series. Tom has also won the Glasgow Music Festival Composition and Invention Class in 2006. Also, look out for a new work commissioned for Tuba and percussion quartet, for performance, recording and public CD release under the Brass Classics Label - due for recording in July 2008.
Tom Harrold has held the post as Musical Director for East Dunbartonshire Council’s Youth Theatre programme since 2006, and this has involved new commissions of short works for the stage, performed by children between the ages of 7 and 14.
Email: tom@itsnoreel.co.uk
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Colin McKee - Fiddle, born in Glasgow, Scotland, Colin has been playing violin since he was four years old and studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Junior Academy), an institute set up through the RSAMD for talented young musicians. Colin has attended the academy for the past five years. He has achieved his grade 8 violin and passed with distinction. Colin also studies traditional Scottish music at the RSAMD with various large and small groups, and in addition to this, is a member of many different musical associations including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. His involvement in musical activities at school have a vast range from the Douglas Academy Music School’s Orchestras to the choir which went on tour in the summer of 2007 to Vilnius, Lithuania.
Email: colin@itsnoreel.co.uk
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Scott Harrold - Drumkit, born in Glasgow, Scotland, Studies percussion with Lachie Birch. A master at improvisation, he is an integral part of the team and his funky ceilidh grooves (an infusion of traditional, disco and dance) will be the one getting your guests up on the floor and the feet tapping all night long!
Email: scott@itsnoreel.co.uk
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Magnus Maharg - Coming Soon!!