Scottish Tribute Takes Center Stage

Christiane MacLeod is German by birth and Scottish by marriage — and choice.

MacLeod has received three precious things from Scotland: a university education, an accent — and a husband.

She is a thriving force behind “Songs & Sounds of Scotland,” a Scottish fling being planned for its second year.

Last year the Spokane Valley Highland Dancers attracted some 800 people to the performance at Shadle Park High School. The problem was only 700 bought tickets. There was such a crush of people and scant few attendants at the door that at least a hundred people crashed the gate.

Still, those who planned the event were so pleased with the acceptance of Scottish dance and music that they decided to do it again this year. Only bigger.

Performers from last year will by joined Saturday by John Taylor of San Jose, Calif., “one of the most outstanding Scottish fiddlers in the country,” MacLeod said. “Fiddlers are a big part of Scottish music.”

Taylor has won numerous awards, recorded several albums, many with music he composed, and he appeared in the movie “So I Married an Axe Murderer.”

Performing with him will be Ken Briggs, a pipe major of the now-defunct Seattle Pipe Band, and Brian MacLeod, a native of Tain, Scotland (and the husband Christiane found there). Brian MacLeod is the former lead singer and guitarist with the group Emerald.

The Seattle Pipe Band developed to a Grade 1 ranking, MacLeod said, the highest honor a Scottish band can achieve.

Also on the bill will be Spokane’s Angus Scott Pipe Band, Shadle Park’s Highlanders, and the Celtic Dragon Pipe Band from Missoula.

Scottish dancing is a competitive sport as much as anything else, MacLeod said. And it’s very expensive, partly because of the costumes. Plus, the more proficient one becomes in dancing, the more pricey competitions there are, luring dancers from across the region, nation and world. All of which translates into travel expenses.

Many Spokane Valley Highland Dancers have successfully competed their way to world championships.

The Scottish group “brings in teachers from all over the place to develop dancing,” MacLeod said. Which is an expense.

That’s why they hold fund-raisers such as Saturday’s event: to help pay for teachers and to ease travel costs.

Highland Dance leaders want to attract more young people and don’t want expense to cause anyone to shy away. Without benefits, “only a privileged few” would be able to participate, MacLeod said.

She and her husband are very familiar with the cost of competition. Their daughter Lindsey began dancing when she was just 4. The swords she danced over and around were taller than she.

Those who love all things Scottish dearly want its music, dance and culture to remain viable and be passed on to generations yet to come. They hope to plant and cultivate seeds of interest in young people who will be sitting in the Shadle Park audience.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

IN CONCERT

`Sounds & Songs of Scotland’

“Sounds & Songs of Scotland” will be at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Shadle Park High Scool auditorium, 4327 N. Ash. Tickets are $5 in advance, and $7 at the door. Tickets may be bought at Hoffman Music stores at 1430 N. Monroe and 12412 E. Sprague.