Fantoosh! are Jenni Fraser (fiddle/violin), Pauline Salmond (cello), Graham McDonald (piano). We are based in the Lothian/Borders area of Scotland and play our own contemporary arrangements of traditional, classical and jazz music. We are equally at home playing for concerts, ceilidhs and other special events, such as weddings and corporate functions.
Jenni grew up playing Scottish traditional music. She studied classical violin at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, but has never lost her passion for the music of Scotland. Jenni is an experienced fiddler and plays regularly as a concert performer and for dancing. She is also a qualified Suzuki violin teacher and works as a violin instructor in the Scottish Borders and at George Watsons College, Edinburgh.
Pauline studied classical cello at the Douglas Academy in Glasgow, and the RNCM in Manchester. She went on to work as a District Community Musician in Norway and then organised and taught music at St Marys School, Melrose. Pauline is a more recent convert to the world of traditional music and has discovered a deep affinity with the music of her home country. She really enjoys working on arrangements and playing music which develop the role of cello within traditional music. She currently works as a strings instructor within the Scottish Borders in addition to regular performing.
Graham is an adaptable musician who can turn his hand to a wide variety of musical styles. From a young age, Graham was drawn to the piano and went to study at Northern College, Aberdeen where he was awarded a scholarship to the North East of Scotland Music School. Graham now teaches class music at St. Davids High School, Dalkeith and piano at the Mansfield School of Music. He regularly performs solo piano recitals, works as an accompanist, plays in his local church music group and tunes pianos!
