The innovative combination of the Bardic Trio consists of Scottish Tenor, Jamie MacDougall, Guitarist Matthew McAllister and Welsh Harpist Sharron Griffiths. The genesis of the trio was inspired when Jamie met with the renowned Mexican Harpist, Angel Padilla Crespo for a concert tour of Mexico.In 2013, the line-up changed to include Sharron and the new trio were very positively received by audiences and critics alike during their inaugural concert tour of Scotland. With effortless, informative presentation coupled with passionate, soulful performances this new chamber ensemble is fast growing in popularity.
The trio commissioned eminent Scottish composers, Eddie McGuire and Alasdair Nicolson to arrange new settings of Welsh, Scots and Orcadian traditional songs including Burns and the Balfour Song Book. Recent performances include the St Magnus Festival in Orkney, Passauer Saiten Festival in Germany, Three Choirs Festival in Worcester, broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland during Celtic Connections in Glasgow and the Classical Guitar Retreat on the Isle of Cumbrae.
Jamie balances a busy life as one of the UK’s most versatile performers combining his life on stage with his life behind the microphone, presenting Classics Unwrapped for BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra concerts on BBC Radio 3. Jamie has appeared with some of the world's top Baroque, Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. The Halle, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, King’s Consort and English Concert, St Louis and Houston Symphony Orchestras. Since becoming the voice of Classical Music on BBC Scotland Jamie has enjoyed a unique partnership with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, presenting and singing at numerous events including Proms in the Park, the opening of the City Halls in Glasgow and the 75th Anniversary of the orchestra. Jamie has been the voice of Classical Music for BBC Scotland for 15 years now, presenting Grace Notes and Classics Unwrapped. In that time he has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music world such as Elmer Bernstein, Maxim Vengarov, SIr James Galway, Kenneth McKellar, Rene Fleming and Bryn Terfel.
Welsh born harpist Sharron Griffiths is in great demand as a soloist and chamber musician, being a member of several successful chamber ensembles. As an orchestral player, Sharron works regularly with BBCSSO, RSNO, Scottish Opera, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. She is a lecturer in pedal harp at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Sharron has appeared as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in recitals both on the concert platform, recording and radio broadcasts, playing at many prestigious concert halls all over the World including the Royal Albert Hall and the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
Matthew McAllister is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented Classical Guitarists in Europe. Matthew has been delighting audiences worldwide with his insightful performances and effortless presentation in a concert career spanning well over a decade. Matthew has performed at major venues across the world such as The Concertgebouw Amsterdam, The Purcell Room, London, Teatro Britanico, Lima, The Sage, Gateshead, Cenart, Mexico City, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Eugene O’Neil Theater, San Jose and Dom Armije, Sarajevo to name a few.
Our repertoire:
Mexican set:
Songs of Francisco Pichardo
Flores Del Alma
Al Triste Arullo
Mis Lagrimas
Por ti mi Corazón by Manuel Maria Ponce [voice & guitar]
Milonga para amar by Rolando Ortiz [harp solo]
Julia Florida by Agustin Barrios [guitar solo]
Sobre de las Puerto by Marquez [voice & harp]
Selection of popular folk songs by De Falla [voice & guitar]
Scottish set:
Songs of Robert Burns - arranged by Eddie McGuire
Winter it is Past
Ae Fond Kiss
The De’il’s Awa
Rattlin’ Roarin’ Willie
Slave's lament
A Man’s a Man
Balfour song book arranged by Alasdair Nicolson
In his skiff bounding lightly
The early cock
High in his glory
A Birthday Hansel by Benjamin Britten [tenor & harp]
Farewell to Stromness - Peter Maxwell Davies [guitar solo]
Bucks of Oranmore - Traditional Scots [guitar & harp]
Welsh set:
Welsh folk songs - arranged by Eddie McGuire
Suo gan
Ar hyd y nos
linked by a reading from Dylan Thomas 'Under Milk Wood'