Leanne Aucoin, from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, is an accomplished Fiddler, Pianist and Step Dancer. A member and volunteer for the Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association, Leanne has been instructing fiddle, piano and step dancing for the past seven years. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and a former student of the Gaelic College for many years, she now returns as an instructor.

Sandra Bald-Jones comes from Kirkcaldy, Scotland and resides in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a Fellow and Examiner of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance, Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dance and an adjudicator with the Scottish Official Board' s Panel of Judges. Judging, teaching and choreographing has taken Sandra all over Canada, United States, Scotland, Australia and South Africa. The Sandra Bald Jones Dance Studio has produced many champion dancers.

Allie Bennett lives in North Sydney. He has toured extensively across Canada, USA, Britain, Sweden and Australia and worked with many Canadian artists including Rita MacNeil, John Allan Cameron, Murray MacLaughlan, and the late Stan Rogers. He operates a private instructional practice, teaching violin, guitar and bass and specializes in teaching Cape Breton fiddle. alliebennett.ca

Kelly Biduke is a member of the BATD and a judge on the panel of SOBHD. A former champion, she trained under Evelyn Murray, performed with the Athol Murray Dancers, competed extensively in Canada, the USA and Scotland. She runs her own dance school in Whitby, ON where she resides with her husband and five children.

Myron Bretholz, a native and current resident of Baltimore, MD, USA, has lent his talents as a percussionist and producer to nearly fifty recordings of Irish, Scottish and other folk music. He has taught bodhran and rhythm bones at many workshops throughout the US and Canada over the past two decades. Myron' s relaxed and humorous teaching style has made him an in-demand workshop leader and instructor.

Cheyenne Brown, from Alaska, moved to Scotland in 2002. After completing an Honours degree in Scottish music at the RSAMD she is now in high demand for performances and teaching on both sides of the Atlantic. Her innovative duo with Seylan Baxter has been busy with festivals and gigs across Europe following the success of their debut CD, 2:forty. She is co-director of the Glasgow based Scottish Harp and Cello Festival and convener for the Glasgow branch of the Clarsach Society. celloharp.com

Michael Campbell was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and began playing the Pipes in 1981 as a member of the Antigonish Clanranald Pipe Band. He has won numerous band and solo competitions throughout the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and was named Champion Supreme Piper for the Province of Nova Scotia for Grades Four, Three and Two consecutively. He remains extremely active in the local piping scene as an Instructor, and Pipe Major of both the Cape Breton Pipes and Drums and the 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton) Pipes and Drums. Michael has toured extensively with The Forresters' School of Celtic Dance as Company Piper and Music Co-coordinator in Scotland, the USA and Canada. Michael currently resides in Sydney, Nova Scotia with his wife and two daughters.

Matt Carter started drumming with the Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band in 1984 under the instruction of Brian Freeman and Dave Coleman. He served as the band's lead drummer from 1996 to 2007, winning several "best drum corps" prizes along the way. Matt is a dedicated instructor of both pipe band snare drumming and Irish bodhran, teaching several students from his studio in Fredericton. Currently, Matt plays with the 78th Highlanders, Halifax Citadel Pipe Band, Atlantic Canada's only grade one pipe band. He is also a founding member of the New Brunswick Celtic group Brollachan in which he plays bouzouki, guitar, bodhran, and whistle. mcartermusic

Bonnie Jean (Macdonald) Cutcliffe, originally from Sydney Mines now living in Halifax, is an accomplished step dancer, performer and instructor who, since an early age has been involved with the college as a student and instructor and has also performed and conducted step dance workshops in Canada and the US for many years. She is now a schoolteacher and gives private lessons.

Dominique Dodge attended the Gaelic College as a student for many years and now we welcome her back as a harp instructor. She has a BA in Scottish Music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. She teaches, performs (singing and harp), competes and has a keen interest in Cape Breton music and Gaelic language. dominiquedodge.net

Sandy Gordon is from Fredericton NB and has been involved in piping for over 30 years. He studied with instructors Seumas MacNeill, Duncan Johnstone and William Livingston. Until 1995, he was P/M of the Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band (Grade II) and remains active in their organization.

Glenn Graham's roots (four generations have produced 44 musicians including fiddlers, piano players, pipers, Gaelic singers, composers and dancers) go deep in the traditional Gaelic music of Cape Breton. His latest release  Stepoutside features his driving fiddle style, singing and songwriting.

Ian Juurlink from Anigonish, has numerous solo piping awards to his credit including 7 Atlantic Canadian Champion Supreme. He was a member of the Antigonish Highland Society Pipe Band for 9 years four of which he was Pipe Sergeant. He instructed at the Antigonish Highland Society School of Piping for four years. He is currently Pipe Sergeant of the Gaelic College Pipe Band and teaches privately. Ian is an avid curler and member of the team that won the Nova Scotia Junior Provincial Championship in 2006, 2007.

Trevor Kellock, from Halifax, NS has been playing the bagpipes since the age of 14. In the amateur grades, he consistently made the prize lists both in Atlantic Canada and at the Glengarry highland games. Trevorhas been a member of the Dartmouth and District pipe band since 2001, is a private instructor, an instructor with the Dartmouth and District school and junior bands, and is currently the pipe major of the grade 2 band in the organization.

Jason Kempt, a literacy educator by day and a busy entertainer by night, has shared the stage with some of Canada' s best: Lawrence Gowan, The Barra MacNeils, Doris Mason, The Fables, Lennie Gallant and Bruce Guthro. He has toured extensively in Canada and USA as bandleader of Third of a Dozen, with ECMA nominee fiddler Jennifer Roland and appears on keyboard and accordion on her latest CD. C

Graham Kirkwood now resides in Oakville ON with his wife Patricia and their son James. The son of the late James Kirkwood, a talented drummer formerly from Newmains, Scotland, Graham has played competitively since the age of 18 and is lead-tip of the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band. He has taught and judged in both the US and Canada and presently instructs privately from his home.

Kelley MacArthur is the director of her own dance studio in Sydney, Nova Scotia - the MacArthur School of Dance - teaching Scottish Highland, Cape Breton Step, & Celtic Step Dance to over 100 students. She also directs a traveling performance group - the CapeLand Dance Company. Kelly danced competitively for 22 years throughout Canada, the United States and Europe - repeatedly winning the Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canadian Championship Titles. She has been teaching workshops and conferences all over the Maritimes & the U.S. for over 20 years, including 18 years here at the Gaelic College. Kelly also works for the Cape Breton School Board with Learning Through The Arts - which is a curriculum based International Educational Program. Kelly has her BA in Psychology from UCCB, is a Member of the SDTA, SOBHD, and Vice President of Scotdance Nova Scotia. This past year, Kelly was presented with a Women Of Excellence Award for N.S. women in business. macarthurdance.com

Bhreagh MacDonald, originally from Sydney, now living in Cole Harbour, is an accomplished step dancer fiddler and performer. She started step dancing at the age of 5 and has been involved with the Gaelic College for many years both as a student and instructor. An original member of the group Slainte Mhath, Bhreagh is now a school teacher with the Halifax Regional School Board.

Jeff MacDonald, a native of Kingsville, Inverness Co, Jeff is a strong promoter of Gaelic culture throughout Cape Breton. A graduate of St. F. X. University and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye, Jeff is completing his Masters in Folklore at Memorial University in Newfoundland. He has worked with various groups, teaching and promoting Gaelic language and culture including Fèis An Eilein in Christmas Island, the Gaelic College and the Nova Scotia Highland Village in Iona.

James MacHattie, from Toronto, has been piping since age 12 and his solo accomplishments include Canadian Gold Medal for Piobaireachd, the Livingstone Invitational MSR and the Canadian Police Memorial MSR to name a few. He performed with the Simon Fraser Pipe Band for two world championships and is now Pipe Major of the Toronto Police Pipe Band.

Mairi MacInnes from South Uist in the outer Hebrides spoke Gaelic at home and only learned English after starting school. Her beautiful voice earned her at a very young age the prestigious Gold Medal at the National Gaelic Mod in Skye in 1982. Since then Mairi has become a well-established singer and teacher and is often performs on TV and radio. She has performed in Canada - mostly recently at the Celtic Colours International Festival. mairimacinnes.com

Rankin MacInnis is a traditional piper and piano player from Mabou, Cape Breton. The 20-year old engineering student at St. Francis University started playing pipes under the instruction of Mark Stewart. His piping has taken him many places, including Ceolas in South Uist, and the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, with the Gaelic College Pipe Band, in 2006. Rankin has piped for the rock n roll band, The White Stripes , when they came to Glace Bay  2007; the opening of Celtic Colours in 2007 with the Cheiftans; the opening of Celtic Colours 2008 with Carlos Nunez, and had his own part in the 2008 Celtic Colours Piper's Ceilidh.

Sandy MacIntyre, formerly from Inverness, now living in Ontario, specializes in the traditional style of Cape Breton fiddling. He has performed internationally, teaches and conducts workshops in Canada, the US and Scotland. Sandy has several recordings to his credit including his most recent -  Steeped in Tradition. sandymacintyre.com

Angus MacLeod, from Goose Cove, Cape Breton learned his Gaelic from local elders, classes and workshops and through course work at UCCB. For the past several years he has been teaching language and song locally and at Féisean throughout Cape Breton. In addition to his ability in the language he brings to the classroom a keen understanding of the challenges faced by those learning Gaelic today.

Hector MacNeil lives in Sydney, Cape Breton and is Gaelic Director at the Gaelic College. He has an MA in Celtic Studies from St. Francis Xavier University. Hector has been very involved in Gaelic promotion over the years, both in the classroom and in the community. He served as the founding President of Comhairle Na Gàidhlig (The Gaelic Council of Novs Scotia), founding Chairperson of Comunn Fèis An Eilein and Board Member for the Celtic Colours International Festival. He has been teaching Gaelic language and song at the Gaelic College and at Cape Breton University since 1989.

Ryan J MacNeil, originally from Big Pond, now residing in Port Hood, Cape Breton, is an accomplished musician who has mastered his instruments (highland bagpipe, border pipes and whistles) and brings a unique personal flavour to the music he plays. In the past several years Ryan has become increasingly renowned as a talented composer. His tunes have been performed and recorded by any musicians, both locally and abroad. To top it all off, Ryan manufactures a line of his own whistles!

Jean MacNeil lives in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton where she has operated a step dance school for many years. She has been teaching at the Gaelic College for the past eight years. Her family background is steeped in Cape Breton music and dance. She is the mother of the members of  The Barra MacNeils and, also has two sons in the group  Slainte Mhath .

Cathy Ann MacPhee, born and raised on the Island of Barra, moved to Ottawa in 1991 with her husband (Angus MacDonald from Lochboisdale, South Uist) and two children. Since age 17 she has traveled the world performing. Cathy has recorded four albums, has many television and radio performances and, over the past 25 years, has been heavily involved in festival work teaching at Fèisean from the Isle of Barra to Seattle. In addition, she spent two years teaching Gaelic song in the schools of South Uist.

Ellen MacPhee, a native of Summerside, PE, began her piping journey with the Caledonia Pipe Band and attended many summer sessions at the Gaelic College. Ellen' s introduction to the small pipes was in the summer of 1993 by Hamish Moore of Scotland. In the last few years, Ellen has focused her time on the small pipes and has instructed small pipes at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton and Vermont and the Hamish Moore' s piping school in Richmond VT.

John MacPhee began piping at 8 years of age at the College of Piping in PEI and received many national and international prizes, including YTV Achievement Award for Best Instrumentalist in 1998. John has been actively involved in piping instruction, including the Gaelic College, along with joining the progressive Celtic group Slainte Mhath.

Hamish Moore, from Dunkeld, Scotland, not only has played the Scottish Small Pipes since 1980 but is one of the leading pipe makers. He is musical director of the Ceolas summer school in South Uist; founder of many piping schools in Scotland and USA. Hamish taught Scottish Small Pipes here at the College from 1992-96. He is currently involved in the production of a new CD recorded here at the Gaelic College during the 2005 Celtic Colours International Festival. hamishmoore.com

Graham Mulholland, a native of Dunkeld, Scotland and now residing in Traverse City, MI, Graham began playing the Highland Pipes at the age of seven and has won many first-place awards in major piping competition in Scotland and the USA. He studied with several prominent instructors including Murray Henderson and at age 17 joined the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band which won the Scottish, British and World Championships. He presently competes, teaches youths and adults and plays with several musicians in the area.

Catriona Parsons, a native of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, lives in Antigonish and is a professor of Celtic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University. She has an MA in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh and has taught at the Gaelic College for many years. Through the College, she has produced "Ghàidhlig Troimh Chomhradh" - a Gaelic text and tapes for students learning the language.

Jennifer Roland hails from Point Aconi, Cape Breton and long before she studied with Kyle MacNeil of the Barra MacNeils, Jennifer was picking out songs on the piano and stepdancing. With her growing popularity from tours in Europe and the United States, and the success of her debut album,  Dedication and her second album  Wings , she has become a rising star in Cape Breton music. jenniferroland.com

Dara Smith from Antigonish, began taking fiddle lessons with Kendra MacGillivray after a year of classical training at 13 years of age. Following 6 years of instruction, she began taking private students and taught at the Gaelic College during the summer of 2003. A performer at ECMA' s, Celtic Colours, various shows in the Maritimes and the USA, she is presently teaching 20 students and is a member of the Cape Breton Fiddler' s Association.

MICHELLE STEWART

This all started at the Gaelic College in 1997 when we asked Michelle to test the waters with a bodhran workshop. The course was so overwhelmingly popular that bodhran was made a full discipline the following year.

Michelle and Mark's handcrafted Cape Breton Bodhrans have long been recognized for their high quality craftsmanship and sound and are played throughout Canada, United States, Scotland, Mexico, and Australia. Handcrafted in Sydney Mines since 1998, Cape Breton Bodhrans moved with them back to Crieff, Scotland, however, they no longer have time to continue making professional, tunable bodhrans as teaching commitments and other projects limit their time in the workshop.

Michelle has recently taught through the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music and Drama's YouthWorks Music Program and currently runs the Pipe Band Drumming programs at Morrison's Academy and Ardvreck School in Crieff. She has been teaching bodhran for almost 20 years and is near completion of her own bodhran tutorial video series.