Fiona McNeill
Variety is the spice of life, and I have a vast array of experience in many forms throughout the last decade; in countries including Japan, Pakistan, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Italy and at home in Scotland.
I graduated with a Masters in Design [M.Des] with Distinction in “Sound for the Moving Image” at the Glasgow School of Art in 2019.
I am the front woman, guitarist and one of the vocalists for award-winning folk-rock band Reely Jiggered.
Clients include Historic Scotland (Edinburgh Castle), The National Trust (Stirling Castle), British High Commissioner (Islamabad), Kilchoman Distillery, Laphroaig Distillery, Islay Ales Brewery, Royal Yachting Association, BAE Systems, BBC and BBC Cbeebies. (You can catch me and the band on an episode of “Rivercity” and also on a children’s programme called “Woolly and Tig”). Reely Jiggered festival performances include – Celtic Connections, Celtival (Italy), Eden Festival, Volmarstein Irish Folk Festival (Germany), Islay Whisky Festival (Feis Ile), Edinburgh Fringe, Glasgow West End Festival, Viking Festival, Musica en Verano (Mexico), T at the Tower (Germany).
I have over seven years’ experience as a radio presenter and producer of “Celtic & Folk Fusions”, speaking to and interacting with a worldwide audience on SchottenRadio (Germany), Dunoon Community Radio and Inverclyde Radio. I have been one of the broadcasters for Celtic Connections on Celtic Music Radio over the last three years. For my programme “Celtic & Folk Fusions”, I have interviewed Donnie Munro (Runrig), Donald Shaw (Capercaillie & Artistic Director of Celtic Connections), the guys from Skerryvore, Gary Innes (Manran), Brendan Monaghan (Irish singer/songwriter) and Duncan Chisholm (Wolfstone), to name a few.
From broadcasting to Voice Over seemed like a flawless move. I enjoy being behind a microphone and talking to people. Not only that, I have had my voice used for (so far) – video games, interactive VR apps, medical animations, documentary and radio adverts. I also have had the pleasure of being the MC for the World Pipe Band Championships music tent at Glasgow Green.
As a solo performer (guitarist & singer/songwriter), I have supported Ivan Drever, The Groanbox Boys as well as appearances on Bangladeshi TV as part of the Robert Burns/Kazi Nazrul multicultural events which take place to commemorate both Scotland’s and Bangladesh’s national poets.
I’m the guitarist for the McNeill Sisters duo, alongside Alison McNeill on fiddle & vocals (www.alisonmcneill.co.uk). We compose regularly together and are known for our stunning and atmospheric arrangements of traditional music. We have many Burns Suppers under our belt! We have collaborated with University of Glasgow’s Scottish Literature Department, The National Trust for Scotland and The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, working alongside researchers to revive old Scottish music and political poetry. This has led to performances at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Festival of Politics, and at the Huntarian Museum’s “Night at the Museum” and BBC Radio 4 broadcast. Other performances include BBC Radio Alba, Celtic Connections for an International Burns Conference, and interactive performances at “Ae Sparks o’ Nature’s Fire” festival. Internationally, The McNeill Sisters have performed in The Lyre (Tokyo), Minami Aizu Concert Hall in Japan and gave workshops on Scottish Culture and Heritage in a school in Tokyo. In Mexico, we were part of a Celtic/Mexican folk fusion project collaborating with Mexican group La Camaraderia and performed in various concert series, recorded an album and appeared on Mexican Radio and TV.
I have worked as a photographer for Bunnahabhain Distillery, Ardbeg Distillery and for Islay Studios. I enjoy taking headshots and spending hours finding the perfect scenic shots.
I have also brought Scottish Music & Heritage workshops into Scottish primary schools along with Alison McNeill (as part of Youth Music Initiative), teaching guitar, bodhran, penny whistle and ceilidh dancing.