When Seonaid Aitken first picked up the violin at the age of 8, she immediately identified her desire in life - to become a professional musician. Since then, Seonaid has not only realised her goal in becoming an outstanding violinist, lead singer and skilled pianist, but is now recognised as a world-class performer. Seonaid has so far entertained audiences in 23 countries across the globe and her musical travels are to take her even further a-field in 2008 with the debut of her solo show on the luxury cruise line Celebrity Cruises.
Hailing from Fife, Scotland, Seonaid began to refine her classical skills on violin and piano at the junior department of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama before moving to London to receive her Bachelor of Music Honours degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) where she won several awards. Having been involved in musical theatre from a young age, Seonaid gathered experience as a vocalist in her local amateur theatre circuit while receiving classical voice training. She continued her vocal studies in London and quickly branched out into the world of pop, rock and session recording.
Seonaid then joined the International touring violin show Barrage and performed for 6 years throughout the world as a dancing violinist/fiddler, lead vocalist and keyboard player with their theatrical production. Seonaid played the lead role in the DVD Barrage: 'Vagabond Tales', was featured in the Barrage TV special 'Dig A Little Deeper' and appeared alongside Colin Mockrie in the Walt Disney film ‘A Magical Gathering’. In addition to appearing on the BBC, CBC, PBS, TVA, and Bravo! Networks, Seonaid’s television credits with Barrage include live performances filmed and aired in Germany, Poland, Monaco, China and New Zealand. You can also hear Seonaid on the CD Barrage: 'Vagabond Tales' (Swath Publishing).
In the summer of 2006 Seonaid was invited to Japan to sing in Tokyo DisneySEA’s 5th Anniversary production ‘Cape Cod Step Out’. She also doubled as a fiddler in the Cape Cod Irish band during this special event and played violin in the 'Season of the Heart' and 'Spring Carnival' versions of ‘Cape Cod Step Out’. Seonaid will be performing at Tokyo DisneySEA until November 2007.
Seonaid’s professional experience as a classical violinist includes performing with the Scottish Opera, the Scottish Bach Consort and the National Philharmonic of Scotland. As an accomplished traditional fiddler (and improviser) she has performed on fiddle/vocals with the Scottish ceilidh band The Jiggers, the Irish band Slipjig, folk/rock band Chorlton Fold and in Canada with the Calgary-based Irish band Stephen’s Green. Her enthusiasm for all kinds of music has led to her taking part in many folk festivals and jam sessions around the world.
In 1996 the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival presented Seonaid with the Leonard Friedman Violin Award – a brand new violin made on Scotland’s Isle of Mull - which she later showcased in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Philip as a soloist in a performance of 'The Four Seasons' (Vivaldi). Seonaid often returns to the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival as a tutor in classical/traditional violin for the Mull Children’s String Summer School.
As a keen composer, Seonaid has written for Amadeus Screen Music, London and has had works performed by the Scottish Bach Consort, the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival Chamber Orchestra and Fife Youth Orchestra, Scotland. Some of her compositions are to feature on her debut CD which she will begin recording in the winter of 2007.
From the back of a horse and cart to Buckingham Palace; from pre-school Disney-goers to corporate clients and Heads of State; Seonaid loves every minute of performing - no matter the venue or audience. She hopes to continue growing as a musician in all of her new endeavours and bring enjoyment to all of her future audiences by sharing her musical talents with them.
“…Remember this name: Seonaid (pronounced Shona) Aitken, a competent singer and sizzling violinist from Scotland.” Buffalo Times, NY