Fiona Gillespie
Fiona is an eclectic PA-based singer, arts event creator, and educator. She has performed as a soloist at Lincoln Center, appeared with orchestras and professional choral ensembles on multiple GRAMMY-nominated recordings, worked as an entertainer for a historic schooner off the coast of Maine, toured in America, Europe and Asia, performed at major music festivals as well as in countless barns, backyards, churches and theaters, competed at the Fleadh Cheoil All Ireland's music competition, and hosted a podcast during pandemic days called "The Nautilus: An Armchair Marine Biologist Round Table".
Raised in a family of Celtic musicians Fiona grew up Irish step dancing, singing, and playing the Irish whistle and bodhran. She is the founder and manager of Celtic band The Chivalrous Crickets and the ensemble Makaris, which specializes in recording historical Scottish music. Whether as a leader, facilitator, or participant, she finds regenerative life in the ritual of gathering. Through community sings, neighborhood caroling, classroom visits, audience-involved concert-theater productions, collaborative exchanges between professional and community groups, and more, Fiona values building connections through music.
Her nonprofit Hearthsong Folk Arts, based in her beloved hometown of Bethlehem, PA, creates cultural events that promote community connection, individual wellbeing and the preservation of folk traditions by teaching heritage arts, customs and folklore.
As a songwriter and composer, her work can be heard on various Chivalrous Crickets albums, Makaris' 2021 release of Tam Lin, with co-writer Elliot Cole; a half hour folk-rock cantata of the traditional Scottish fairy-tale scored for voices and 12-piece band, and on upcoming release from Musica Sierra, with co-writer Spiff Wiegand, of Hello, Cricket!, a children's storytelling/science musical.
Fiona's other pursuits involve calling and organizing ceilidh and country folk dances and studying Gaelic.
Her recent and upcoming seasons include projects and appearances with Ruckus Early Music, The Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, Skylark Ensemble, Apollo's Fire, Fire and Grace, Tiny Glass Tavern and Elm City Consort, on series and festivals including NYC's Music Before 1800, Skaneatales Festival, Lincoln Center's Summer for the City, The Ravinia Festival, An Appalachian Summer, Folk College and a residency at Lawrence University, along with Chivalrous Crickets shows, Ceilidhs and English Country Dances and collaborative projects with her family, mostly singing Robert Burns songs.
Fiona leads all-ages workshops, camps and song circles around the country, as well as teaching Kindermusik in Lancaster, PA. Previously, she served on the voice faculties of Lycoming College, DeSales University and Muhlenberg College, where she taught applied voice lessons, opera workshop and directed opera and musical theater productions. She holds music degrees from Westminster Choir College (BM) and the University of North Texas (MM).
Shows Featuring
