Hang in there Scottish music fans- there’s a light at the end of the tunnel when you plan to come to our next  Zoom workshop, November 15th (2:00 pm), with Ryan McKasson!

What does Ryan have planned, you ask? Here’s Ryan’s answer to that question:  “Let’s look at the life, times, and tunes of William Marshall. This will be a partial history and biographical course just to give some context to William Marshall and then we’ll learn one or two of his timeless tunes. I teach tunes by ear, but will provide sheet music at the end of the class. All instruments are welcome, but I will be teaching from the perspective of the fiddle.”

There’s plenty of amazing things to tell you about Ryan – here are a few of the highlights, but trust us, you just need to come to this workshop. It will be… (in keeping with Thanksgiving)… delicious!

Here’s what the Boston Globe had to say about his playing: “The bow drives across the strings, thick and throaty, creating a pulsing sound that feels more of muscle than tendon…a compositional sophistication that is cinematic, transporting, and tantalizingly modern”.

Ryan has gained a reputation as a performer, composer, collaborator, and teacher. In 1996 he was the youngest to win the National Scottish Fiddle Championship. In 1997 he was awarded a Merit Scholarship for Viola Performance from the University of Southern California.  During his studies at USC, he co-founded the Syncopaths, and they released two albums together, Rough Around the Edges (2005), and Five Gears (2010).

After USC, Ryan co-found The McKasson’s, with his sister, Cali McKasson, and his wife, Brooke, and her brother, Matt Jerrell. They released the album Tall Tales in 2004, and Tripping Maggie in 2006.

Since that time, Ryan has been a member of a baroque/celtic/fusion combo known as Ensemble Galilei. He also joined forces with guitarist and singer Eric McDonald, releasing the album titled Harbour in 2017.. He has also recorded with Hanneke Cassel on three of her albums, and also with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas on their Highlander’s Farewell CD in 2011.  On the Irish album, Hole in the Hedge, Ryan collaborated Isaac Alderson, Jackie Moran, and Jesse Langon.

Ryan has taught at fiddle camps around the US and New Zealand, most notably: Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddling School, Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle, Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Swannanoa Gathering, and Lark In The Morning.

** If you are not currently on an email list from NW Scottish fiddlers, and you wish to attend this workshop, write to Marcia Thumma, and we’ll send you the link when before the workshop.

You can also check out Ryan’s website for more information!

See you there!