About Emerald Rae - Music and Dance Performer and Educator
BACKGROUND: Emerald grew up in a very musical household. Her parents were both professional musicians, so her knowledge of the life of a musician was firmly instilled at a young age; and she was encouraged to sing, dance and play music. After picking up the fiddle at the age of seven, Emerald's insatiable interest in the music of Scotland and Cape Breton landed her in many popular fiddle camps. She was a regular at the Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic Music in Inverness, Cape Breton; Gaelic Roots at Boston College and Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School.
FORMAL EDUCATION: Emerald is a graduate of Berklee College of Music (2006) where she majored in Film Scoring, and is currently completing a Masters Thesis in Early Scottish Fiddle Sources through the University of Glasgow after spending a year researching in Scotland. She studied Scottish Highland and North-East fiddle styles privately with Barbara McOwen of the popular Scottish Country Dance band Tullochgorum (then the leader of the NH Strathspey and Reel Society) for eight years before beginning her stint at Berklee.
PERFORMANCE: She brings vigor and energy to ancient melodies while forging new pathways for her own clever compositions. Her performances feature an eclectic mix of fiddle styles, pulling influences from Scotland, Ireland and Appalachia and Scandinavia, all delivered with her unique style and grace. Her comfort on stage and with her audiences make it a truly entertaining experience. Over the past few years, she's been delving into the 17th and 18th centuries exploring the birth of Scottish Music as we know it today, as well as exploring the contemporary Scottish Music scene. Emerald was also frequently asked to run well-known sessions in Glasgow, and performed with the popular ceilidh band Canterach. Now, being based in the Boston-area once again she performs frequently as a solo and guest artist. She runs a wildly popular celtic music session in Harvard Square and is a member of the up and coming Celtic Americana folk group ANNALIVIA. Emerald is also a talented stepdancer and has danced for such fiddling giants as Alasdair Fraser and Natalie MacMaster.
TEACHING: Emerald is a very experienced fiddle and dance teacher. She has taught fiddle at Wellesley College, Club Passim, Springstep and the Callanish School of Celtic Arts. She is also becoming a highly sought after dance teacher. In 2005, she shared her knowledge and steps with the eager dance students at the famous Pinewoods Dance Camp in Plymouth, Ma. She currently teaches Irish and Cape Breton step regularly at various locations around Massachusetts.
AWARDS:
2004 US National Scottish Fiddle Champion
2003 New England Scottish Fiddle Champion
2002 New England Scottish Fiddle Champion
2001 Junior New England Scottish Fiddle Champion
(Emerald competed and placed in fiddle competitions for 10 years before retiring. This are just a few of her crowning achievements.)