Patrons
Ivan and Manuela Wirth
Co-founders of the international art gallery Hauser & Wirth and owners of The Fife Arms Hotel
Paul Mealor
Paul Mealor is one of the world’s most ‘performed’ living composers and has been described as, ‘the most important composer to have emerged in Welsh choral music since William Mathias’ (New York Times, 2001) and his music is, ‘marked by something outside of himself that is beautifully spatial and evocative of landscape… it illuminates both our past and our future’ (The Guardian, 2011).
Paul Anderson
Already something of a legend in the time-honoured fiddle tradition of Scotland, Paul Anderson from Tarland in Aberdeenshire is the finest Scots fiddler of his generation. In the tradition of many of Scotland's great fiddlers, Paul is a composer of some repute, having composed over 300 pieces in the Scots style. During his competitive career Paul won most of the traditional fiddle championships in Scotland and in 1995 won Scotland's premier fiddling event, the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Championship. Paul has performed many times at St Margaret’s. He was recently conferred as a Doctor of Music at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Lisa Milne
Lisa Milne is one of Scotland’s finest-ever operatic voices. Born in Aberdeen, she studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2005. A renowned recitalist she has appeared all over the world in concerts and opera. Lisa retired from the stage in 2015 and now devotes her life to teaching.
International Patrons
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer and songwriter who has written numerous hits for country and pop music performers. Twice Grammy-nominated and based in Nashville, Beth has released thirteen solo albums and written seven number one hits . Her songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Elton John, and Neil Diamond. Beth performed in St Margaret’s in 2016.
Lydia Hutchison
Lydia is the founder, publisher and editor of Performing Songwriter Magazine and in 2014 she started producing the Performing Songwriter Creative Workshops. Many of these have been held at Kincardine Castle and the artists, such as Beth Nielsen Chapman and Mary Gauthier, have performed at St Margaret’s.
Lydia is originally from Louisiana and has lived in Nashville for 32 years.
Verlon Thompson
Verlon Thompson is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and troubadour. From Oklahoma, he has long partnered with fellow singer-songwriter Guy Clark as a producer,[guitarist, and song co-writer. Verlon’s songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Anne Murray and many more. Verlon performed at St Margaret’s in 2019.
Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Massachusetts in the United States. Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies. She has been a performer, writer, and artist since the late 1980s, and her songs have been used in television shows and in the cinema. Jonatha performed in St Margaret’s in 2018.