User:MàiriMacInnes

= Màiri MacInnes = Mairi MacInness is a Scottish folk singer who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.

Early Life
Màiri was born in Baghasdail a Tuath - North Boisdale, a small township on the beautiful and remote Hebridean island of South Uist. Gaelic was spoken exclusively at home with whom she shared with her six siblings and it was not until Màiri went to school that she learned to speak English. Her love of the Gaelic language is instinctive and enduring, her desire to share the beauty of her mother tongue has been a theme throughout her career.

Màiri ‘s passion for singing was similarly instinctive and clearly evident at a very young age. Whenever Màiri was asked by her teachers at school what did she want to be. Màiri’s reply was always that she wanted to be a singer and to travel the world to share her passion for her Gaelic culture and music.

Career
In 1982, Portee, Isle of Skye, Màiri at the tender age of 18 years became one of the youngest winners of the prestigious Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod Scotland’s premier music festival for the celebration and advancement of the Gaelic culture. .This historic win occurred on her first attempt and it was followed the next year with winning the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney, Ireland.

Màiri had the honour of formally opening the South Ford Causeway in South Uist on November 18th 1982. The plaque marking the opening reads: (Chaidh an cabhsair seo fhosgladh air 18 Samhainn 1982 le Mairi NicAonghais a Baghastal a bhuannaich am Bonn Or aig Mod Eilean a Cheo 1982.)

In 1985 Màiri was invited by Calum MacDonald (Runrig) to add singing vocals on their Heartland album, track 7 - ‘Skye’.

In 1986 Màiri had an acting role along side Anthony Higgins, Ewan Stewart (starred in ‘The Titanic’) and Stella Gonet (‘House of Elliot’ series) in the adaptation from the play ‘The Shutter Falls’ by Norman Malcom MacDonald which was screened on BBC national TV.

Prior to releasing Màiri’s debut album ‘Causeway’ in 1989 which was released to widespread acclaim, Màiri’s growing profile led her to be approached by Gaelic dance group Mouth Music which led to tours in the USA and Canada. Màiri recorded the EP Blue Door Green Sea with Mouth Music before choosing to return to a solo career.

During this time Màiri was also developing a television career in parallel to her singing career with presenting programmes for BBC Scotland, STV, and Grampian television which included Brag, Dotaman, Siudan, Trang-Trang, Na Daoine Beaga, Orain ‘s Rannan. Haggis Agus, Royal National Mod - (Oban 1992 , Airdrie 1993)

Màiri makes regular appearances on TV and Radio, including BBC Alba’s Spiritual programme Alleluia, and in September 2021 Màiri appeared on the TV programme 'Canu Gyda Fy Arwr 'on South Uist with the wonderful Welsh Tenor Rhys Meirion which was broadcast as a Christmas Day Special for Channel 4 Welsh TV later that year. Rhys invited Màiri as his guest to perform with him in Gaelic and in Welsh. His chosen song - 'Is Gaidheal Mi' - 'I am a Gael' as part of 'Canu Gyda Fy Arwr.

Màiri’s second album This Feeling Inside was released by Greentrax in 1995 - The title track This Feeling Inside - Is Gaidheal Mi was translated into both Gaelic and Welsh and recorded with the Llangwm Male Welsh Voice Choir on their album Ysbryd Y Gael. After the album release, Màiri was invited to perform the song with the choir and the BBC Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra in St David’s Hall Cardiff for a special St Valentine’s Day broadcast for BBC television and radio. It was recorded once more for The Gaelic Women - Ar Canan’s Ar Ceol compilation CD when Màiri featured with the Glasgow Gaelic Choir.

Mairi MacInnes has wowed audiences throughout Scotland and beyond appearing at many festivals but namely Celtic Colours in Cape Breton Island and Celtic Connections in Glasgow. Mairi appeared at the Celtic Colours 8th October 1999 with the Gala Opening Concert at the Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay.

Màiri was chosen as the singer for William Jackson’s song for Scotland Land of Light. It won the Glasgow Herald's New Song for the Millennium competition, selected from 249 entries from countries as far afield as the Faroe Islands, New Zealand and the United States.

Due to this success, Màiri was invited to perform the song at Holyrood Palace to an invited audience which included HRH The Prince of Wales. (King Charles III) Following this performance in the same year, Màiri was approached by the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo to perform Land of Light accompanied by 500 Military Pipers as part of their 2000 Millennium show. 2001- Màiri’s third album Orosay was released and produced by Calum Malcolm then in 2002 Tickettyboo was released (songs old and new for children ) Since then Màiri has toured USA, Canada, Germany, Wales, Spain, Brittany, Italy, Ireland

In 2001 Màiri was asked to join the Academy of Music and Drama now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to teach Gaelic Song on The Traditional Music Degree Course which Màiri continues to teach to this day. Over 20 years ago Màiri was one of the founder members of establishing ‘Feis Arainn’ which is still thriving and encouraging young people to participate in the Gaelic culture and continues as an annual event on the island and which Màiri continues to support.

Màiri has also taught Gaelic song extensively throughout Scotland, USA, and Canada notably at: Feis Bharraigh, Feis Eilean an Fhraoich, Feis Lathurna, Feis Ile, Feis Thiriodh, Feis Dhun Eideann, Feis Arainn, Feis Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu Ceolas Summer School - Isle of South Uist, Sabhal Mor Ostaig - Isle of Skye St Ann’s Gaelic College Cape Breton NS and Vermont Grand Father Mountain Highland Games - North Carolina. Barga Summer School Italy (set up by renowned piper and bagpipe maker Hamish Moore)

During the Pandemic Màiri continued her teaching online for festivals, radio, such as Ceolas and also continued with her private teaching with students worldwide.

In January 2015 as part of the UK’s premier annual celebration of Celtic music (Celtic Connections festival), Màiri launched her solo album Gràs at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.

In a 2015 interview with The Herald, she said about teaching: “I’ve always loved sharing the songs I sing,” she says. “I love singing for an audience but for me it’s just as important to pass the tradition on and teaching one-to-one is really a two-way learning process. I learn from my students because I put myself in their shoes and remember what it was like for me when I was their age. It’s also important to get to know them as people so they feel they’re accomplishing something more than just learning a song. You can have a lovely voice and know all the information that lies behind a song but you need to put it across in a genuine way. It’s really down to humility and understanding that it’s the song that matters”. “Your voice is the instrument and as the singer you’re the medium that allows the song to connect with people”.

In Autumn 2015 Màiri toured the Highlands of Scotland performing her new album Gras - Grace as part of the Blas Festival later on that year Màiri was invited as a guest to perform live on The Gaelic Hogmany show for BBC ALBA In 2015, Màiri was invited to record the Theme song ‘Gairm na h-oidhche’ - (Calling the night’) by Patrick Doyle for the remake of the 1949 film Whisky Galore ! based on the novel by Compton MacKenzie. The film premiered at the 2016 Edinburgh Film Festival which Màiri attended. The music for the film was composed by the Internationally acclaimed composer Patrick Doyle known for composing music scores for films such as (Harry Potter, Cinderella, Brave, and many more.)

As part of Celtic Connections 2019 Patrick Doyle ‘A Celebration’ Màiri performed the song with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the historical building The City Halls Glasgow.

2018 commemorated the Centenary of the end of 1st World War Màiri had the honour of performing her composition Tha ar n-ainm ard air Meinhein - Our names upon the Menin Gate where she toured extensively throughout Scotland with the show ‘Far Far from Ypres’ where the final performance was held at the Usher Hall Edinburgh in front of the 1st Minister of Scotland.

2019 Màiri was inducted into The Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the historic German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 2020 BBC Alba broadcast a documentary based on Beethoven’s links to Gaelic music. Màiri featured extensively throughout the programme by the request of her friend German musicologist and Gaelic scholar Dr Michael Klevenhaus who was instrumental in researching Beethovens works to mark this special occasion.

In October 2023 Màiri joined Cathy MacDonald and Tony Kearney on BBC Alba reviewing the Traditional song competition from the Royal National Mod in Paisley.

Màiri MacInnes performed as part of RSNO’s 2023/24 concert plan tribute to Patrick Doyle’s Music from the Movies. Màiri had been invited by Patrick Doyle to perform his Gaelic song Gàirm na h-oidhche - ‘Calling the night’ from the remake of the 1949 film ‘Whisky Galore’ at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and at the Usher Hall Edinburgh on 18th - 19th November 2023.