Mharhi Baird

Mharhi’s passion lies with traditional music & song from various diaspora, particularly that of Scotland, Ireland and more recently Brittany. Thus far, her music has taken her across Europe and the USA to perform and teach at a number of festivals, summer schools and institutions including Celtic Connections, Pan Celtic Festival (Derry), Vaka Folk Festival (Iceland) Iceland Academy of the Arts, Edinburgh TradFest and Common Ground on the Hill (USA).

Mharhi grew up in the heart of rural Ayrshire, an area rich in dialect and poetry which heavily influences her singing & recitations. From here she went on to study flute under renowned piper Iain MacDonald at Lews Castle College, Benbecula Campus & later graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland & the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance.

As peripatetic music teacher in schools, workshop leader for international summer schools and community outreach programmes, private tutor and member of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum education team, Mharhi is highly regarded in the field of music education. Organisations she has worked for thus far include Maoin Cheoil an Chláir, Fèis Rois, Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Comhaltas, Youth Music Initiative, Glasgow Fiddle Workshop, Iceland Academy of Arts, Common Ground on the Hill (USA) & Fèisean Nan Ghàidheal.

The recipient of two prestigious Dewar Arts Awards, Mharhi is a passionate teacher and performer of traditional music on flute, tenor banjo & song, The style and repertoire of Clare, East Galway and the Scottish West Highlands along with musicians such as Liam Flanagan, Derek Hickey, Tommy Fitzharris and The MacDonald’s of Glenuig continue to shape and inspire Mharhi’s music and core values as performer and teacher.