Musicians

Graham Berry - Advanced AM, Beginners/ Improvers PM and Ladies Step

Originally from Newburgh in Fife, Graham comes from a musical background - his father played the accordion and had his own Scottish Country dance band for many years. Graham married Angela Young in 2011 and they now live near Glenfarg in Perthshire.

Graham has been playing piano and keyboard in Scottish dance bands for over 30 years. He has played for many types of functions, including of course Scottish Country dancing, in the back line of a number of bands.

More recently he has been 'playing the tune' as a pianist for SCD classes in London and Perth. In both of these capacities, he has travelled all over Scotland and the rest of the UK, as well as trips to continental Europe, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. He has appeared on television and has made numerous radio broadcasts, as well as appearing on a large number of recordings with various bands.

Andrew Nolan - Very Advanced AM and also teaching Advanced PM

Originally from West London, Andrew learned to dance at a local children's class from an early age and it has stuck ever since. Although not from a particularly musical family, he developed a keen interest in Scottish music from childhood and now plays for Scottish Country dancing as well as enjoying dancing himself. Andrew moved to study Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh and currently is working towards his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry.

While in Edinburgh, Andrew gained his Teaching Certificate in 2010 and his Part 2 in 2012. He taught a four day course in Voronezh, Russia and in Canada at the Ottawa weekend as well as keeping up his teaching in the UK. In addition to teaching, Andrew plays regularly for classes in Edinburgh and at Summer School in St Andrews including both parts of the Teaching Certificate. In the course of his playing, he has travelled as far as the New Zealand Summer School as well as many events in continental Europe.

Aside from teaching and playing, Andrew is actively involved in Edinburgh Branch and is excited to be involved in Spring Fling London 2015.

Angela Young - Advanced PM and Sunday also teaching Very Advanced AM and Ladies Step

Angela was born and brought up in Aberdeen, Scotland – she started dancing at a very early age, learning Scottish Country Dancing, Ballet, Tap & Highland. This was quickly followed by piano lessons from the age of four. Angela grew up surrounded by music & dancing – her mum is a Scottish Country Dance teacher, and her dad played the accordion.

When she was 18, Angela attended one of the first musicians’ courses run by the RSCDS, and was then invited to play at Summer School in St Andrews by the course tutors Muriel Johnstone and Robert Mackay. Since then she has played yearly at St Andrews, and has been the Director of the Musicians Course.

Angela has also played for Day Schools and Weekends in the UK and across Europe, and have led Musicians’ Workshops.

Màrtainn Skene - Beginners/ Improvers AM, Very Advanced PM and Birling

Originally from Lochaber, Màrtainn is currently a student of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Strathclyde University.

He grew up in the West Coast cèilidh culture and enjoys playing traditional pipe tunes and Gaelic music.

Màrtainn started playing for country dance classes in Fort William when he was in high school and has continued playing for classes in Glasgow.

Màrtainn got the opportunity to attend the musicians’ course at the Summer School in St Andrew’s in 2010 which was instructed by George Meikle and Gordon Simpson, and has since been invited back to play for classes the last couple of years.

Outside of university he plays with his band for cèilidh and country dances.