ABOUT THE BAND: Chris Stone | Holly Downes | Chris Silver

Chris Stone began playing violin at the age of 10. His initial interest lay in Scottish fiddle music, and with the help of Australian fiddle icon Bob McGuinness and Aria award winning Scottish fiddler Chris Duncan, became the youngest ever recipient of the ‘Chris Whent Award for Excellence in a Young Musician’ at the Australian National Folk Festival in 1999. In 2001 he received a full scholarship and travel fund to attend premier Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser’s ‘Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School’ in California, USA.

Having been exposed to and challenged by a myriad of new musical styles in the USA, Chris was keen to extend his musical capabilities, and enrolled in the Australian National University (ANU). Mentored by Tor Fromhyr, head of the string department at the ANU, Chris introduced music from many traditions alongside more traditional Classical violin repertoire into his recitals and performances, including new acoustic music composed by Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor, Pekka Kuusisto, Renaud Garcia Fons and David Balakrishnan of the Turtle Island String Quartet. He completed his Bachelor of Music in violin performance in 2006, having been awarded a Chancellor’s letter of commendation in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and accepted an invitation to become a member of the Golden Key International Honours Society for Academic Excellence in 2005.

During this period, Chris joined Scots/Gaelic/Jazz band Eilean Mor, recorded their debut album ‘35 degrees south’, and toured the UK in 2006 and 2007, New Zealand and Tasmania in 2007, as well as performing at numerous festivals and concerts throughout Australia.

Chris has performed in a wide range of musical styles and environments. From an early age he has played for Scottish country dances with Australia’s top fiddlers, including Chris Duncan, Cathy Fraser and Bob McGuinness. He premiered ‘Indi’, a multi-media composition by Leanne Bear for Audio Tape, Photographic Projection and Two Violins, at the River Health Conference in Wentworth in 2005, and was orchestral leader for the premiere performance of ‘The Silk Road’ composed by Jane Brownlee, a multimedia presentation with 30 piece orchestra and video projection in 2006 at the Australian National Folk Festival. Chris has also performed extensively with the ANU Symphony Orchestra and ANU Chamber Orchestra. In August 2007, Chris performed a string of 6 concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Edinburgh based singer songwriter Frank Burkitt. His most recent project has been producing and performing on Frank’s debut album ‘a little less care’.

He has recorded with the band Spoot o'Skerry on their album ‘Noxious Reeds’ and with the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club for ‘Reel Cool’ in 2001, on Ruth Lee Martin’s debut album ‘Mine Alone is the Land’ in 2005, with Eilean Mor for ‘35 Degrees South’ in 2006, with Helen Rivero for ‘Yes Capitan’ in 2007, and with Frank Burkitt for ‘a little less care’ in 2008.

Hear more music from Chris at his myspace page:

myspace.com/chrisjstone

Holly Downes began piano lessons at age six but soon became fascinated by stringed instruments, taking up violin at age seven. As she grew larger, her desire to play the biggest member of the string family also increased, starting double bass lessons at age fourteen. Holly has a strong background in classical music, and has played in orchestras and chamber ensembles for as long as she can remember. However, her musical interests are eclectic and she has played with various groups at folk festivals around Australia on both bass and fiddle for many years.

From 1996 she was a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra Association, originally as a first violinist in the Peter Seymour Orchestra (Concertmaster in 1997), then as a bassist in that orchestra, the Sydney Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sydney Youth Orchestra proper, acting as principal during their 2001 tour to Scandinavia.

In 2001 Holly helped found the world music ensemble Worldview with whom she played violin as well as double bass. She toured China with them later that year, recorded an album in 2002 and received 1st place in the Sydney Eisteddfod small ensemble category two years running – as well as performing locally in support of various community events.
In 2006 Holly completed her Bachelor of Music, majoring in performance on classical double bass at the Australian National University, Canberra, under the expert tutelage of Max McBride. During her time in Canberra she also undertook lessons in both violin and viola with Tor Fromhyr.

Holly has played with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra since 2003 and has been a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra for the last few years. She toured Europe with AYO in 2004 and 2007 and since 2002 has participated in a wide range of the AYO’s orchestral programs including the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s orchestral career development program and National Music Camp.

Holly’s interest in fiddle music has led her to perform at the Australian National Folk Festival as bassist with the fiddler Jane Brownlee in 2002 and 2003, as principal second violin in the National Fiddle Orchestra for the opening ceremony of the festival in 2005, with the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra in 2006 and Composer/Singer Helen Rivero in 2007 (playing for the CD Yes Capitan that same year). She has also performed on violin at Woodford Folk Festival and at the Jamberoo Folk Festival on both violin and bass.

She has consistently received support and acknowledgement of her musical achievements, being awarded the Australian National University’s String Department Scholarship in 2003, the Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation every year throughout her degree, numerous scholarships from the Australian Youth Orchestra Association and a Music Scholarship from St Paul’s Grammar School (Penrith, Australia), not to mention the Double Bass scholarship from the Sydney Youth Orchestra Association that originally gave her the opportunity to take up the bass

Most recently she has been based in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she has played several gigs with guitarist/singer-songwriter Frank Burkitt, as well as playing on his debut album a little less care. She looks forward to touring the UK with Frank later this year.

Chris Silver was brought up in Shetland, where his interest in playing music was first sparked thanks to the islands' thriving musical culture and history. From the awkward age at which most young men learn to play the guitar he has continued to develop until he left for the unknown pleasures of the city in 2005. During his stay in the north he learned a few tricks from ex-Fiddler's Bid guitarist Steve Yarrington, other than that he is entirely self-taught.

Thankfully he survived the move, and found solace in Edinburgh's thriving traditional music scene. He has focused mainly on the accompaniment of traditional song on any fretted instrument he can get hold of. He has collaborated with a variety of groups and individuals in Edinburgh over the past few years, being a typical 'dark horse'.

Chris is a house musician at the city's carnivalesque drinking den; The Royal Oak. This folk pub of legend was also were he first ran into Frank Burkitt, who was (as ever) regaling an audience with a raised eyebrow and glass (not to mention of course, his masterfully penned songs). The many musicians, both established and unknown who frequent the Oak have exerted a huge influence on the music of Silver.

As a member of the Garden Sessions team Chris has had a wonderful time finding folk in every corner of Scotland. In this capacity he is a regular provider of reviews, interviews and wry comment for the country's only dedicated folk media outlet.

Chris is also a student of English Literature at Edinburgh University, although he insistently maintains that a Guinness infused rendition of a traditional ballad is as fine a form of expression as any.