About Celtic Angel - Leela Fraser
Celtic Angel, Leela Barbara Fraser is a
fourth generation Celtic Canadian singer of Scottish and Irish
ancestry. She was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, into a
musical family. All eight children of the musical Fraser family grew up
singing Celtic and Christian Music at community events in Eastern
Canada.
Leela pursued her passion for music
diligently and is a professionally trained soprano with a Bachelor of
Music in Classical Voice and a Diploma in Jazz Studies from St. Francis
Xavier University, Antigonish, NS. She is extremely creative at
composing and recording, and understands the theories and intricate
procedures of music making. In the past she has composed, recorded and
performed not only Celtic Music, but also Eastern Mantras, Music for
Yoga, and Live Indian Music.
Leela’s angelic singing voice makes her a
natural singer of Celtic songs and melodies. Currently Leela is
composing, arranging, and developing a unique style of Celtic Music that
blends traditional classic Celtic melodies, both Scottish and Irish,
and instruments such as the bagpipes, bodhran, tin whistle, Celtic harp,
violin, piano, guitar, and strings with her timeless, unique style of
Canadian Celtic Music. Her sweet, melodic voice highlights these instruments to create the special, ethereal mood that characterizes her music.
Much of Leela’s inspiration for music came
from her mother, Lillian (Ryan) and father, James Fraser. Lillian was a
soprano who frequently performed as a church choir soloist and at local
Celtic music events, concerts, and in musical theater. Leela has a
great affinity for the bagpipes, as she grew up hearing her father
playing them most evenings, often lullabying her to sleep. Her father
is also a popular local Scottish fiddler in NS.
Leela’s younger sister, Maureen, is a professional Scottish step-dancer and has a thriving step-dancing school in Antigonish, NS.
Her older sister, Patricia, is a high school music teacher and flautist
who performs Celtic and other styles of music with her brother, Wayne, a
guitarist.
Over time, Leela has witnessed the
disappearance of many Iconic Celtic folk songs due to the advent of new
musical genres and styles. This has motivated her to take on the
project of recording and reviving traditional Celtic songs.
