Mari Black & Troy MacGillivray
- Americana
- Celtic
- Fiddle
- Folk
“From Highlands to Islands”
a musical journey through Scotland, Cape Breton, and beyond
Get ready for an explosion of joyous, foot-stompin’ Celtic dance music, as champion Scottish & multistyle fiddler Mari Black and Nova Scotia/Cape Breton fiddler & piano extraordinaire Troy MacGillivray team up for an unforgettable musical adventure! Drawing on each of their deep musical roots, Troy and Mari will take you on journey from the majestic highlands of Scotland to the famed musical island of Cape Breton…and lots of other places where these musical styles have spread over the years. Come dance along to driving reels, majestic strathspeys, cheeky hornpipes, lilting jigs, and soulful airs as these two power-house fiddlers let you into their playful collaboration that’s been years in the making. They’ll make you laugh, sigh, tap your toes, and immerse completely in the delights of this beloved music.
Tickets will be on sale to the public 4/18 at noon. On sale to all Passim members 4/11 at noon. On sale to All Access Passim members 4/4 at noon.
Mari Black
- Celtic
- Fiddle
- Trad
Called “One of the brightest fiddlers around today” by WGBH radio host Brian O’Donovan, multistyle violinist and champion fiddler MARI BLACK has been delighting audiences across the country and around the world with her energetic playing, sparkling stage presence, and dazzlingly virtuosic fiddling.
Raised on a rich blend of traditional musical styles, Mari made her entrance onto the international stage when she became Scotland’s Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion, 2-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and 2-time Canadian Maritime Fiddle champion, all within a three-year period. Ever since then, she has been spreading her love for dance-based music, performing as a featured artist at Celtic festivals, celebrated folk venues, world music concert series, and acclaimed classical concert venues including Carnegie Hall. Mari has appeared with such diverse artists as Irish fiddle champion Liz Carroll, Americana master Mark O’Connor, and jazzman Willie Ruff. Her music has been heard on the BBC Radio Scotland’s “Take the Floor”, Fox and CBS morning news, NPR’s “Here and Now,” WFMT Chicago’s “Folk Stage”, WGBH Boston’s “A Celtic Sojourn”, and on dozens of other music radio shows across the country.
Mari’s passion for diverse traditional musics extends far beyond the concert stage, as reflected in her work as a teacher, performance coach, dancer, competition judge, and musical ambassador dedicated to connecting people through music. Known as a master teacher with a playful and unconventional approach to helping students expand their horizons, Mari has taught workshops at the Acadia Trad School, the Swannanoa Gathering, the Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling, the Mark O’Connor fiddle camp, the Tanglewood Festival, the Yale School of Music, and more. Currently touring nationally with her trio and a new duo with world accordion champion Cory Pesaturo.
Troy MacGillivray
- Cape Breton
- Celtic
TROY MacGILLIVRAY is from Lanark, a small community on the north-eastern shore of Nova Scotia. Troy’s commitment to music has spanned 30 years and includes both practical and academic accomplishments – most recently an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick in Ireland. From as young as six years old, Troy was impressing audiences with his step dancing and soon after, his fiddle and piano skills. His roots-centered approach comes from a family of proud Scottish heritage where fiddle playing and Gaelic traditions runs in the bloodline. In 2012, Troy was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for contributions to culture in Canada. Troy’s strong career has brought him around the world playing and teaching from the North Pole to the Afghanistan while solo recordings have received numerous nominations and awards from the East Coast Music Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
