Catriona receives doctorate with thesis exploring women’s role in fiddle tradition
LOCAL fiddle player Catriona Macdonald recently graduated with a doctorate from Newcastle University.
Her thesis was originally inspired by her observation that women’s contributions had not previously been investigated and highlighted within Shetland’s historical fiddle and connected folk traditions.
The thesis was called ‘Singin’ da Reels’: Recovering and Revoicing a Cultural History of Women’s roles in the Vernacular Fiddle Traditions of the Shetland Islands’ (1774-1950).
Working at the nexus between historical archive research, feminist historiography and creative practice, Macdonald’s thesis and a connected 70-minute creative practice portfolio, concentrated on the recovery of historical women, their lived-experiences and highlighted their role in folk culture and the vernacular fiddle traditions of Shetland up to 1950.
She moved back to Shetland in December 2025 to take up the director of creativity and impact role at Shetland Arts.
In the same year she was also conferred an Emeritus Professorship from Newcastle University following a distinguished 25-year career as a core staff member and degree programme director for the university’s ground-breaking folk and traditional music degree.
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