DANCER:
JAMES DEVINE

James Devine is synonymous in the world of dance for his tapping speed and precision, earning him a Millenium Guinness World Record entry as the "fastest dancer that has ever lived".

A master Irish dancer and performer, it is Devine's unique style of "Celtic Tap", a fusion of Irish dance with Rhythm Tap that has earned him critical acclaim worldwide. His signature tap has been likened to "manic typewriters", "talking drums" and "tap tornado."

Critics throughout the world have acclaimed him as the "modern day Fred Astaire". He's appeared on major television shows worldwide including the Oscar ceremony of the 69th Annual Academy Awards, and his choreography has been featured on television and theatre stages the world over.

VIOLIN:
ADAM SUTHERLAND

Adam Sutherland has been playing the fiddle for over 20 years. Reknowned for his genre-bending fiddle playing he blends celtic, jazz and world music influences that excites audiences around the world.

He started learning from the late Donald Riddell in 1987, and attended the Inverness Strathspey and Reel Soceity on a Monday night, which Donnie led. Shortly after he passed, Adam started attending a summer school which took place in the Gaelic college 'Sabhal Mor Ostaig' in Sleat, Skye where he learned from legendary fiddle master Alasdair Fraser.

DRUMS and PERCUSSION:
PAUL JENNINGS

Paul Jennings is one of Scotland's top percussionists. Playing professionally since the age of just 16 he first hit the road with legendary Scottish folk band Old Blind Dogs. His unique style of playing has seen him play with a host of acts and artists including many of the top names in the Scottish and World music scene. He has gained much experience as a touring musician having toured America more than eight times and appearing on over 20 recordings. More recently he co-composed and performed a musical commission with Fraser Stone for the 2006 and 2007 Celtic Connections festivals in Glasgow. Paul was a founder member of the ground breaking World/fusion band Croft No. Five. Some of the other artists Paul has worked with include: Wolfstone, Capercaillie, Fred Morrison, Fribo, Jim Malcolm, Jenna Reid, Julie Fowlis, Emily Smith, Blazin Fiddles, Boys Of The Lough, Andrew White, The Blizzards.

ELECTRIC HARP:
AILIE ROBERTSON

Ailie Robertson is a musician in the broadest sense: composer, arranger, teacher, improviser and harp virtuoso. “Her synthesis of Irish, Scottish and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realization of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp” (Niall Keegan, 2006).

Ailie grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was immersed in the harp world from an early age. Through her piano and clarsach lessons she developed a love for both classical and traditional music, and in 2005 gained a 1st-class MA in Irish Music Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

Although just 23 years old, she already has some of the most impressive credentials in the Scottish harp world. A 4-time National Mod Gold Medalist, she was also 1st prizewinner at the inaugural London Harp Competition, and best overall musician at the Edinburgh Competition Festival. She has represented Commun na Clarsach for Scotland at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, and in 2005 she was awarded a scholarship from the ESU in recognition of her 'virtuosic clarsach playing', and was a winner of the St Albans New Roots award. She played in the Scottish Harp Orchestra, Na Clarsairean for many years, performing with them at two World Harp Congresses - in Seattle and Prague.

For all Tapeire performances, Electric Harp is provided by sponsors Lyon and Healy Harps of Chicago.