Music Director - Mo Rutherford

I was born in Keith, Moray, and basically had no option but to have a musical/dancing future. Mum (Betty) is the local Scottish country dance teacher and Dad (Walter), who played for the class, led his own successful dance band prior to retiring.

Having begun Highland dancing lessons at the age of 3, and piano at 4, I studied music at Aberdeen University then trained to be a teacher at Dundee College of Education.

Teaching piano is now my full-time occupation, and in my spare time I work extensively as an accompanist, arranger, adjudicator and examiner. I also play fiddle in the band led by my husband, Neil Copland, but have also worked and recorded with many other Scottish dance bands.

Directing many music courses across the globe has been particularly enjoyable for me, including those held in St Andrews at the RSCDS Summer School. I was also delighted to direct the music on four occasions for "Dancing Forth", the show staged annually by Edinburgh Branch of the RSCDS for the Festival Fringe.

Mo Rutherford