Margaret Bennett
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
United Kingdom

Margaret Bennett, Scottish singer, folklorist, and writer, was brought up in a family of tradition bearers, Gaelic on her mothers side and Scots on her fathers. She has an MA in folklore from Newfoundland and a PhD in ethnology from University of Edinburgh, where she also lectured for more than a decade. She currently teaches part-time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and also sings, tells stories, and lectures on both sides of the Atlantic. A prize-winning author, Margaret has written ten books and contributions to over thirty others. Her symposium presentation will be illustrated by excerpts from her newest book (with CD): Jerome Just One More Song! Local, Social and Political History in the Repertoire of a Newfoundland-Irish Singer. Margaret has received several awards for her contribution to Celtic music and culture, including an Honorary Doctor of Music in Glasgow (2011) and was recently appointed as Honorary Professor of Folklore of the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh (2012). She has recorded several CDs and has featured on radio and TV. She is also known for collaborations with her son, the late Martyn Bennett, featuring in theatre and film, including world-acclaimed play, The Black Watch. She also plays a role and sings in a new feature film about traditional song, Blackbird, premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival, 2013. The late Hamish Henderson wrote, Margaret embodies the spirit of Scotland.