Biography
The young box player from Muir-of-Ord (20) started playing Classical and Scottish Dance Music on the accordion and piano at the age of 7. Having won many competitions including classical, traditional and the trios at the Scottish Accordion Championships in Perth, she was invited to France by former World Champions Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine for a weeks tuition. In 2005 two weeks after her 16th Birthday, she released her debut album “Out of the Shadows”, since then she has developed her own unique style of energy, sensitivity and flare which is clearly demonstrated in her CD. Her involvement with Fèis Rois as a pupil, tutor and Cèilidh Trail Co-ordinator and being a pupil at “Sgoil Chiùil na G idhealtachd” in Plockton proved to be a turning point and lead to her currently studying for a degree in Gaelic and Music at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye. Her initial interest in music came from her grandfather, button box player Fraser MacLean whose band she used to play accordion and piano in from the age of 12. She is now influenced by various forms of celtic music, particularly Accordion, Fiddle, Pipes and Gaelic Song. Roya has worked on P&O Cruiseships, Aurora and Arcadia in a band which has taken her travelling around the Baltics and the Meditteranean which she found great experience.