Judith Peacock

A master of the clarsach (Scottish harp), Judith Peacock has successfully balanced the traditional music of the Celtic Isles and classical music. A charter member of the Whistlebinkies, one of the first bands to combine fiddle, bagpipe and clarsach, Peacock has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In the late-1990s, Peacock collaborated with virtuosic violinist Yehudi Menuhin for an evening of Scottish fiddle music. Peacock has also worked with classical acapella group, Capella Nova and the Glasgow Festival Strings and the Scottish Ballet Company. Her recording experiences include sessions with David Essex and the Cutting Crew. Born in a Gaelic-speaking village near Glasgow, Peacock studied the violin at the age of seven. She discovered her natural musical voice after switching to the clarsach eight years later. After studying early and modern Irish language at Trinity College in Dublin, she transferred to the Royal Academy of Music and Dance where she studied with late harper Sanchia Pielou. In addition to earning a bachelors degree in music performance, she received a postgraduate certificate from the school. She continued her education at Trinity College of Music in London, receiving a scholarship from the Caird and Leche Trusts. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide