Bio & Publicity Photos courtesy of Lochaber's Website
Interview by Kimberley - Canadian Celtic Music Website

Lochaber has just finished their second CD Celtic Energy. It is 47 minutes of non stop great celtic tunes with enough energy to make any task easier and more fun.  Perfect for working out in the gym, walking, choreography highland or step dance or cleaning the house! 

Performing haunting Gaelic laments, breath-taking mouth music, Lochaber presents majestical dances, highland pipes and a full fiddle fury of Strathspeys and reels for their audience.

Lochaber guarantees that their high-energy show will have audience members clapping, singing, spoon playing, toe tapping and hooting the night away.

The group has been together for four years, performing exclusively in the special event and conference market. Lochaber is now branching out to planning and hosting community Cape Breton Square set dances and Ceilidhs through out Nova Scotia and instructional workshops.

This dynamic five piece Celtic band is led by Christy Hodder, of Wolfville. She is the group's founder, lead singer, fiddler and dancer.

Hodder is accompanied by Kimberley Holmes, keyboard player, fiddler and dancer from Carol's Corner, Nova Scotia. Kimberly has just returned from being on tour in the United States.  Zach Smith is the group's percussionist, the newest member of Lochaber, having played previously with Christy Hodder during the group's beginnings.  Robyn Whitty, award-winning piper from Mabou, performs on lowland pipes, whistles, and bodhran. Having recently won the Eastern Canadian Piping competition.  Constance Tweedie is a premier Highland dancer and step dancer from Berwick who currently studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Whether it be historic Gaelic milling frolics, a haunting lament from the Highlands, breath-taking mouth music, a full fiddle fury of Strathspeys and reels, the humor of a brilliant Scottish anecdote or the fast tapping rhythm of the Cape Breton step dance, Lochaber provides just the right entertainment for your community concert, conference or other special event.

Shows can be custom designed to meet the specific needs of your event. At your request Lochaber can even provide spoon playing, Gaelic, step or Highland dancing lessons.

Lochaber Band Members:

Meet Christy Hodder: CALA/NSFLA certified teacher and musician Christy Hodder, B.Ed, from Nova Scotia, launches her newest CD, "CELTIC ENERGY" at big CALA (Aqua fitness) Convention this June 25-27 in Toronto. Singer and violin player since a child, Christy Hodder, while attending a CALA training course with Charlene Kopansky in PEI, came up with the idea with Charlene to make a Canadian made CARDIO CD with a CELTIC flare. 

"It can be frustrating to teach to low budget fitness music made by studio musicians who have never been in a pool doing aqua before, step/highland dancing or are avid walkers. I teach fitness, step dancing, my daughters highland dance and I'm a musician... it is a perfect fit!" 

Hodder teaches aqua and fitness classes at Acadia University in Wolfville NS and has been in the fitness industry for over 11 years. She performs as the lead singer, fiddler and a dancer of Halifax Celtic group LOCHABER. Her group specializes in International conferences, educational Celtic music workshops and large group Cape Breton Square set dances.

She teaches a violin studio of 47 students in the Annapolis valley and has three children her self.

"I love my new CD... I listen to it all of the time at home... IT GIVES ME ENERGY! .... and I NEED IT! ... It's better than coffee!"

Kimberley Holmes has been playing the piano since the age of five, achieving her Royal Conservatory Grade VII and the fiddle since 1985. She has been a house accompanist on piano for both the Maritime Fiddle Festival (Dartmouth, N.S.) and the Downeast Old-Time Fiddle Contest for many years.

Kimberley is also well known for her fiddle playing. At the Maritime Fiddle Festival she won first in the group class with Dave Bagnell in 1987, with Jocelyn Bourque in 1993, and with Samantha Robichaud in 2002. As well, she placed first in the open class at the Downeast Old-Time Fiddle Contest in 1997.

She has worked with such artists as Graham and Eleanor Townsend, Richard Wood, Calvin Vollrath, Gordon Stobbe, Winnie Chafe, Alisdair Fraser, and April Verch among others, and has appeared on a long list of recordings by such artists as Richard Wood, Jocelyn Bourque, Sherryl Fitzpatrick, Peter Dawson, Ray Legere, J.P. Cormier, and Tara Lynne Touesnard.

Kimberley has been a guest instructor on both piano and fiddle at numerous workshops and fiddle camps, as well as at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton in 1990. Kimberley has toured Canada and the U.S. with the April Verch Band, and is currently a member of Lochaber, a Celtic group based in Nova Scotia. She will be touring with Calvin Vollrath in August 2004. Kimberley lives in Carrolls Corner, N.S., where she teaches fiddle and piano from her home.

Bonjour! I'm Constance Tweedie. I love dancing, especially performing. I've been dancing for 7 years now and I love it more every year!

I think the jigs are the best (for any dancers out there). Even though I love to watch it, I totally don't enjoy the "Earl Of Errole" ... it hurts your legs too much! 

Besides dancing, I'm a dedicated freestyle wrestler, flute player, rugby player and I love trying new, healthy recipes (I'm a health nut). Oh and P.S:  I think French is the best!

Robyn Whitty, the piper/bodhran/whistle playing member of Lochaber, from Mabou, Cape Breton, is 45 years old & has been playing pipes most of her life. 

Teaching has been a large part of her piping career, having taught in the U.S. & Canada at summer schools & workshops, as well as private lessons. 

Robyn also plays with the Antigonish Pipe Band and judges at piping competitions.  

"I've been lucky enough to learn from some of the best in the business and I enjoy passing on the incredible joy I get from playing. Hope to see you out at a Lochaber workshop or concert!"

Zach Smith has been teaching since the age of fifteen. He began this career with the Rob Roy pipeband from Kingston, Ontario. Three years later he led the drum corps to the World Pipeband Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The same year Zach won a gold medal for solo highland drumming (grade 2) at the North American Championships at Maxville, Ontario.

In 1991, Zach began his studies at Acadia University where he received both a Bachelor of Music (percussion) and a Bachelor of Music Education degree. During his time at Acadia, Zach was a percussion clinician at over twenty different schools in the Annapolis Valley and Halifax area.

Upon graduation, Zach accepted a job with the Canadian Conservatory in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he taught drum kit, bodhran, and hand drumming. When he left in 2003, Zach had amassed a full schedule of just over 70 students per week. Zach now teaches drum kit at Music Junction in Fall River, Nova Scotia (an affiliate of the Fall River School of Performing Arts).

Zach has had the opportunity to play with many great groups/musicians over the years including: Richard Wood, The Gordon Stobbe Trio, Donna Andy, The Rob Roy Pipeband, Room 226, Toast, Good Question, The Band of the Ceremonial Guard (Ottawa), Ceilidh's Homet and, of course, Lochaber. 

Zach loves letters from fans and friends so drop him a line!

August

1-15 - Grand Pre, NS - Acadian Celebrations, Grand Pre Park
17 - Kentville, NS - Live Celtic Energy performance
18-23 - Toronto, ON - CAN FIT PRO trade show

9 - Halifax, NS - Conference at World Trade Center
11 - Sackville, NS - Aqua Conference: "Extravaganza" Master Class
18 - Wolfville, NS - Wolfville Waterfront, Roots Festival (1:00pm)

23 - Woodstock, New Bruswick - Workshop with Kim Holmes, Gordon Stobbie and Krista Tousnard

Thanks to Lochaber, we gave a copy of their "Celtic Energy" CD away.  Congratulations to Elizabeth M. from Thunder Bay, ON who won the CD!