Lyre

Consisting of three of Scotland’s most exciting musicians, LYRE released their highly anticipated debut album Gin and Strathspey in 2022. LYRE unites the talents of ex-Breabach fiddler Patsy Reid, Marit Fält on Nordic mandola and cellist Alice Allen. Their winningly playful, melodic, groove-driven blend of traditional and original material draws on Scottish, Scandinavian and classical influences, defies genre and is catalysed by virtuoso musicianship and sparkling chamber ensemble interplay.

Patsy Reid (Violin / Viola / Tenor Guitar) has become the most in-demand traditional fiddle player in the UK. She performed alongside Dougie Maclean and Kylie Minogue at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, with Zakir Hussain at the London 2012 Olympic Festival followed by an extensive tour of North America, and since 2013 she has visited India five times, collaborating with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and fellow British musicians. In the studio Patsy is a one woman string quartet, contributing violin, viola and cello to albums by Donald Shaw, Duncan Chisholm, Bella Hardy, Treacherous Orchestra, Tim Edey and many more.

Marit Fält (nordic mandola) is a multi-instrumentalist brought up in Norway of Swedish parentage. She is best known as a Låtmandola player and is a leading proponent of using plucked instruments in a range of ways – equally as comfortable to lead as to accompany. Having graduated from Newcastle University with the highest performance mark ever achieved, she has toured internationally with a range of artists. Most known for her duo with Rona Wilkie, she is also gaining a reputation for her work as a composer – she has composed a soundtrack with Rona for BAFTA nominated documentary Sixteen Years till Summer, and premiered her New Voices commission Irrationalities in Celtic Connections 2020.

Alice Allen (cello) grew up in Banchory, Aberdeenshire and is now based in rural Stirlingshire. She was formerly young artist in residence with the Scottish Ensemble and has performed live on BBC Radio 3 and Radio Scotland. Alice has recorded with many leading folk artists including former BBC young traditional musician of the year Robyn Stapleton. Her playing has taken her to the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall, Europe and India and she has worked with many of the country’s leading performing groups including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Concerto Caledonia, Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concertante and the Brodick Quartet. Alice performs regularly with fiddler Alastair Savage and is Chamber Music Scotland's Ensemble in Residence 2019-21 as one half of the duo GAIA, with violinist Katrina Lee.