Sheumas & Monica MacNeil

Cape Breton

Sheumas, the eldest of six siblings who make up the Barra MacNeils, began playing piano at a very young age. He soon teamed up with his younger, fiddle-playing brother Kyle and the duo performed regularly at local square dances. Together they set the stage for what is now the Barra MacNeils. Sheumas studied music at Mount Allison University where he received his Bachelor of Music Major in Pipe Organ.

Monica MacNeil is a saxophone player living in Sydney. She brings a unique sound to traditional music playing fiddle tunes on the soprano saxophone with her husband, Sheumas, on piano. She has appeared on recordings by Charlie MacCuspic, Buddy MacDonald and John Ferguson, McGinty, and Angelo Spinazzola. Along with bringing traditional Cape Breton music to the saxophone, Monica also brings it into the high school classroom, teaching Celtic music classes as a part of her music program at Riverview High School.