Meet the Team

Lorraine has been the Fèis Rois Office and Finance Manager since 2021, after a few years away from the team to run a family business and raise her three children. Responsible for the day-to-day smooth running of the office and finances of the organisation, Lorraine has a degree in Communication Studies. In her spare time Lorraine enjoys live music and creative writing, something she has been passionate about since school days.

Teya-Jean graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with an MA in English Literature and returned in 2014 to complete a MSc in Creative Writing. Her career in the arts was nurtured at Eden Court Theatre, where she assisted the Creative department for two years in a role that taught her everything from how to write a Rabbie-Burns-themed murder mystery from scratch, to composing and playing a live score for a theatre production for Under 5s. In early 2019, she migrated back to her roots in traditional music and joined the Fèis Rois team as the Community Classes Coordinator. As a folk singer-songwriter herself, Teya-Jean can be seen gigging around the Highlands and is also a fledgling writer with a little poetry and short story success. When she’s not tuning her guitar, or zipping around Ross-Shire with various instruments, she can be found scouting the local hills with her dog, Limòn.

Fiona is a former Fèis Rois participant who returned home to Ross-shire to take up the post of Chief Executive of Fèis Rois in April 2009. Fiona graduated MA (Hons) Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh before going onto build a career in the arts in Scotland. Recognising her contribution to culture and creativity in the Highlands, Fiona was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2022. Named in the 2018 BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List, which recognised the top 40 most successful women having an impact on the music we are all listening to, and inducted by the Saltire Society as one of ten Outstanding Women in Scotland in 2019, Fiona has ensured that Fèis Rois is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading arts organisations. In her time at Fèis Rois, Fiona has grown the organisation to have an international reach whilst ensuring its roots are very firmly planted in Ross-Shire. 

Rachael is the Education Manager at Fèis Rois where she manages the organisation’s schools programme. Prior to taking up this post at Fèis Rois in September 2010 she was the Artistic Director of Firefly Arts, a youth arts company based in West Lothian. Rachael started at Firefly Arts as a trainee drama workshop leader, before she went on to the roles of Associate Director for Education and then Associate Director of Youth Theatre. Through the Richter Foundation, she has facilitated theatre workshops across Europe as well as co-delivering training for European youth workers. Rachael has a BA in Theatre and Media Drama from the University of Glamorgan and following the completion of her degree she became one of the first RANK foundation apprentices, where she was a youth worker for the RCDA Youth Service. Rachael was brought up going to the Gordon Gaitherin in Aberdeenshire, where she loved learning traditional music.

After taking part in the Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail during his music degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Christian joined the Fèis Rois team in 2017 to coordinate the Ceilidh Trail behind-the-scenes on a graduate placement. He is now working as Creative Producer for the organisation and is working on performance and showcasing opportunities nationally and internationally. Christian holds an MSc in Equality & Human Rights from the University of Glasgow and outside of his work at Fèis Rois volunteers for LGBT Youth Scotland and LEAP Sports Scotland.

Ruairidh studied Applied Music with the University of the Highlands. Playing the fiddle and accordion, Ruairidh has grown up with Fèis Rois taking part in the Ceilidh Trail and other projects including KIN & the Community and The Boy & the Bunnet. Alongside attending the music school in Plockton, playing with Gizzen Briggs and promoting music with Sutherland Sessions, Ruairidh’s experiences means he has a wide perspective of music in Scotland which will hopefully help contribute towards the continued growth of Fèis Rois.

Eilidh joined Fèis Rois in September 2023 as a part time Gaelic Officer. Eilidh graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2023 with a MA in Gaelic. Eilidh will be working in policy and planning, something she enjoyed whilst at university. As her first job in the Gaelic world, Eilidh is looking forward to learning about the importance of Gaelic at Fèis Rois and the new skills she will develop from those around her. In her spare time, Eilidh can often be found watching live sports, especially tennis, reading a good book, going on holiday or playing the bagpipes.

Hailing from Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness, Sophie’s passion for Gaelic language and culture is rooted in her Highland upbringing and involvement in house cèilidhs, dances, music sessions and local fèisean, from a young age. Sophie has an MA in Scottish Literature & Ethnology (Edinburgh University), a CertHE in Gàidhlig (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig) and an HNC in Traditional Music (University of the Highlands and Islands). Over the last ten years, Sophie has worked in the Gaelic arts and media as a performer, teacher and presenter and is well known internationally as a percussive, Scottish step dancer. Sophie joined Fèis Rois in September 2023, as Gaelic Officer: Creative Projects; working on events including Cearcall Còmhraidh, to Gaelic Immersion Weekends for teenagers in Ross & Cromarty. Sophie also looks to foster partnerships and collaborations with Gaelic organisations across Scotland and with other minority language communities, internationally. Outside of work, Sophie loves to get outdoors – walking in the hills, swimming and paddle-boarding!