The Willow Trio

Having featured on Celtic Connection’s Danny Kyle Stage, Talking Harps, Opening the Harp Chakra, Northern Soul, Local Heroes and BBC Scotland, the trio have released their debut EP Oystercatchers in 2021, which is available on all streaming platforms. 

The trio’s latest project is the Swan of Salen, a multimedia ballet project which joins Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with Gaelic culture, folklore and music. The Swan of Salen is a multimedia adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet. Set to a Gaelic folk tale, the performance features a unique blend of Tchaikovsky’s music and traditional melodies played live on three clàrsachs, and a brand new choreography by Deborah Norris (balletfolk.com) projected behind the musicians. Tradition bearer Mary Ann Kennedy consulted us on Gaelic culture, music, language and history throughout the project – we are incredibly grateful for her sharing her wealth of knowledge.

The trio intend to bring the Swan of Salen to rural communities. The small footprint of the live show means the ballet can be performed in venues as small as a living room, requiring only a power socket. The show balances Gaelic arts and the classical score, creating a seamless piece that is intended for everyone to enjoy.

Out-with the trio, each member follows a diverse career – multi-instrumentalist Sam MacAdam performs with The Sleekit Beasties, is releasing new solo music, and is the recipient of the Paolo Nutini scholarship for songwriting – composer Romy Wymer has won second prize and the audience award in the World Harp Competition and is now writing her first album – and Sophie Rocks was recently a UKHA emerging artist, tours as a soloist across the UK and runs genre-defying concert series, Music At the Green in the West End of Glasgow.