Fiona Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Fiona Ritchie is a Scottish radio broadcaster best known as the producer and host of The Thistle & Shamrock
, an hour-long Celtic music
program that airs weekly throughout the United States on National Public Radio (NPR). She also produces Thistlepod
, offering free podcasts from program archives of artist interviews and musical excerpts from the show.
The program has won numerous awards since its inception in 1981, offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary Celtic sounds, interwoven with in-studio performances and Ritchie’s own trademark commentary in her “soft Scots” dialect.
for her undergraduate education. While there, she was invited to spend one semester in North Carolina
in the United States, and that was when she first heard NPR. After graduating in Scotland she returned to North Carolina and, although initially pursuing post-graduate research, was hired by WFAE
FM, the NPR station in Charlotte
, to oversee fundraising and promotion efforts.
WFAE was a new station open to new ideas and in 1981 Ritchie began a weekly hour of Celtic music
for its local audience. The Thistle & Shamrock was picked up for national broadcast less than two years after this debut. The program's national following grew quickly and it was soon established as one of NPR's most widely heard and best-loved music offerings. During her years based in North Carolina, Ritchie visited radio stations coast-to-coast across the US, presenting live broadcasts and events, and in 1989 and 1990, traveled to 22 US cities with The Thistle & Shamrock Concert Tour.
to Alaska, and hosted festival concerts from Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
to Chicago's Grant Park
. Along the way she has forged a strong association with the United States, and made a unique contribution to the American airwaves. In 2003 the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage honored her for “creating an on-air community, serving as a musical ambassador, and connecting listeners with the best of traditional and contemporary artistry.”
In the UK, Fiona Ritchie has presented numerous programs for BBC Radio Scotland
and BBC Radio 2
, launching the Radio Scotland world music series "Celtic Connections" in 1993. She has produced and presented many live concert performances and broadcasts, including a musical event for HRH Prince Charles in 2001 at Holyrood Palace
in Edinburgh
, and has acted in an advisory capacity for arts organizations in the US and UK, including serving on the Scottish advisory committee for the British Council
.
Award from St. Andrews Presbyterian College
, which also conferred upon her the degree of honorary doctorate. Hundreds of Thistle & Shamrock tapes and vinyl albums, along with concert recordings, playlists, newsletters, and related materials are now part of a working archive in the Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews College. The archive is open to anyone interested in studying the rich heritage of Celtic music.
In 2006 Ritchie launched Thistlepod
, a free podcast from NPR featuring new-releases from Celtic roots. She has also produced several CD compilations, authored a 2005 volume on Celtic music for the Curious Listener's Guide book series, and is co-writing a book on the many musical connections between Scotland and Appalachia
.
The Thistle & Shamrock
The Thistle & Shamrock is a weekly American syndicated radio program, named after the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, specializing in Celtic music. It is heard on 380 National Public Radio stations, and is available internationally on WorldSpace via NPR Worldwide; according to NPR...
, an hour-long Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
program that airs weekly throughout the United States on National Public Radio (NPR). She also produces Thistlepod
Thistlepod
Thistlepod, is a free podcast offered by National Public Radio in which their well-known music host Fiona Ritchie picks previews and debuts of new music from Celtic roots...
, offering free podcasts from program archives of artist interviews and musical excerpts from the show.
The program has won numerous awards since its inception in 1981, offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary Celtic sounds, interwoven with in-studio performances and Ritchie’s own trademark commentary in her “soft Scots” dialect.
Early years
Ritchie was born and raised in Scotland, where she went to the University of StirlingUniversity of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
for her undergraduate education. While there, she was invited to spend one semester in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States, and that was when she first heard NPR. After graduating in Scotland she returned to North Carolina and, although initially pursuing post-graduate research, was hired by WFAE
WFAE
WFAE is the flagship National Public Radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina broadcasting at 90.7 MHz on the FM dial.The station went on the air on June 29, 1981 as a service of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, taking over from a student-run carrier current station that had begun...
FM, the NPR station in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, to oversee fundraising and promotion efforts.
WFAE was a new station open to new ideas and in 1981 Ritchie began a weekly hour of Celtic music
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
for its local audience. The Thistle & Shamrock was picked up for national broadcast less than two years after this debut. The program's national following grew quickly and it was soon established as one of NPR's most widely heard and best-loved music offerings. During her years based in North Carolina, Ritchie visited radio stations coast-to-coast across the US, presenting live broadcasts and events, and in 1989 and 1990, traveled to 22 US cities with The Thistle & Shamrock Concert Tour.
Return to Scotland
Fiona Ritchie has come full circle to re-settle and create her radio programs at home in Scotland. On numerous return trips to the United States, she has visited and raised funds for NPR member stations everywhere from LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to Alaska, and hosted festival concerts from Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, known locally in the Washington, D.C. area as simply Wolf Trap, is a performing arts center located on 130 acres of national park land in Wolf Trap, Virginia...
to Chicago's Grant Park
Grant Park (Chicago)
Grant Park, with between the downtown Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan, offers many different attractions in its large open space. The park is generally flat. It is also crossed by large boulevards and even a bed of sunken railroad tracks...
. Along the way she has forged a strong association with the United States, and made a unique contribution to the American airwaves. In 2003 the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage honored her for “creating an on-air community, serving as a musical ambassador, and connecting listeners with the best of traditional and contemporary artistry.”
In the UK, Fiona Ritchie has presented numerous programs for BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
and BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, launching the Radio Scotland world music series "Celtic Connections" in 1993. She has produced and presented many live concert performances and broadcasts, including a musical event for HRH Prince Charles in 2001 at Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, and has acted in an advisory capacity for arts organizations in the US and UK, including serving on the Scottish advisory committee for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
Awards and honors
Ritchie's awards include four World Medals from the New York Festivals International Competition for Radio Programming, and a Flora MacdonaldFlora Macdonald
Flora MacDonald , Jacobite heroine, was the daughter of Ranald MacDonald of Milton on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, and his wife Marion, the daughter of Angus MacDonald.Her father died when she was a child, and her mother was abducted and married by Hugh MacDonald of...
Award from St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
, which also conferred upon her the degree of honorary doctorate. Hundreds of Thistle & Shamrock tapes and vinyl albums, along with concert recordings, playlists, newsletters, and related materials are now part of a working archive in the Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews College. The archive is open to anyone interested in studying the rich heritage of Celtic music.
In 2006 Ritchie launched Thistlepod
Thistlepod
Thistlepod, is a free podcast offered by National Public Radio in which their well-known music host Fiona Ritchie picks previews and debuts of new music from Celtic roots...
, a free podcast from NPR featuring new-releases from Celtic roots. She has also produced several CD compilations, authored a 2005 volume on Celtic music for the Curious Listener's Guide book series, and is co-writing a book on the many musical connections between Scotland and Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
.