Ceilidh Stomp - Scotland

Enjoy a good ceilidh? Enjoy great music and an exciting tempo? Ceilidh Stomp are a ceilidh band based in Aberdeenshire and our aim is to ensure a successful, fun event! Get dancin' to our long list of excellent dances containing a mixture of terrific Scottish and Irish Jigs and Reels.

Who Are We?

JENNY SUTHERLAND
Jenny started the violin aged 6 following in the footsteps of her older sister Lucy. She has gone on to win a number of prestigious awards across Scotland including winning the title of Aberdeenshire schools "Young Musician of the Year" in 2002. Jenny is a past member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and has achieved Grade 8 Associated Board exams on both violin and piano. Jenny has toured Canada, France, Germany and Ireland with her violin and continues to play regularly both with her band and also with her sister.

CLARE PENNY
Clare started learning guitar aged 17 however her passion for ceilidh music only started three years ago. A self-taught musician she plays the guitar, penny whistle and harmonica whilst currently adding to her family’s torment by learning the violin! Clare was a ballet student until the age of 18 which gave her an understanding of dance - this made her the obvious choice as the band’s caller. In her spare time she is a portrait artist; visit www.clarepenny.com

CHRIS SPELLMAN
Chris has been playing the drums from the age of 12 years old at which time he embarked on five years of lessons followed by teaching. His first protege went on to the RSAMD to study percussion. In addition to the drum kit, Chris attended music school in Ireland to learn to play the bodhran. He enjoys playing a wide variety of percussion including the jembe and the bongos and has played with bands of many different styles including rock and Ska bands. Chris played alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as the drummer for the African Sanctus and has performed for many musical shows, including Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.

NICK
Nick began piano lessons at the age of 7 as a pupil of the late Tom Wilson. Under Tom's guidance, he gained an Exhibition Award from the Trinity College London for attaining the highest Grade 7 piano mark in the UK which included a perfect 20 out of 20 for a performance of Scott Joplin's Magnetic Rag. Nick received an A grade for Advanced Higher music with Fiddle as his first instrument of study, but chose to study Politics rather than Music at University, graduating from Aberdeen University with a joint honours degree in Politics and International Relations. In recent years, Nick has had many successes at traditional music festivals including first place in the Piano Class at the Banchory Festival for six years running and first place at the Strichen Festival Piano Class in 2007, with a mark of 99 out of 100. He is currently undertaking a Post Graduate Diploma in education in order to become a fully qualified teacher of Modern Studies. In his spare time, Nick enjoys participation in several ceilidh bands and is currently the deputy conductor of Aberdeen Strathspey and Reel Society.