Fiddle and piano duo Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith breathe fresh life into the Scottish traditional fiddle repertoire with their powerful performances that juxtapose elegantly lyrical airs with driving reels and exuberant strathspeys. Regardless of whether the tune is traditional or original, an irresistible joie de vivre courses through each note, in performance and on recordings like the duo's most recent, Rhymes & Reasons.

One of Australia's finest Scottish fiddlers, Catherine presents the music of her heritage with finesse, passion, and sensitivity. Growing up in South Australia, she took up fiddle at the age of 12 and continued to play for concerts and dances throughout her university years of classical music training. Catherine founded the Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle in 2004, and has been a driving force behind introducing Australian and New Zealand fiddlers to the Scottish idiom.

Based in Melbourne, Duncan met Catherine in a dance band in 2001, and the pair soon realized that they approached playing in a similar way, looking beyond the notes to access the extensive emotional experiences available through music. They were the first Australians invited to perform and teach at the annual Scots Fiddle Festival in Edinburgh. 'Nuff said!

Visit Catherine Fraser & Duncan Smith's website