Meet the Band

Maddie Jewell

Flute, Sound and Lighting!

Maddie was introduced to music at an early age, studying Flute, Piano and Voice at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and performing with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. She went on to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and graduated with a BMus Hons in Music Performance. Since then, Maddie has worked as a freelance musician, performing in venues such as Cadogan Hall, Sage Gateshead and Queen Elizabeth Hall. Alongside performing, Maddie is an Audio Engineer having graduated with a Masters in Audio Production.

Iona Reid

Piano and Band Vegan!

Frank’s daughter Iona graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2023 with a first-class BMus Honours in Traditional Music. Well-known for her exceptional piano musical talent, she has already played for several professional tours at home and abroad and featured in concerts at the UK’s premier celebration of celtic music, the annual Celtic Connections Festival. Iona also plays fiddle (and in earlier years, the pipes), and was a champion Irish Dancer. Iona lives in Brighton at works at Glyndebourne Opera, but we can often tempt her north to join the Frank Reid ensemble!

Donald Stewart

Fiddle and High Finance!

Donald Stewart started learning piano and violin at primary school, played with several of the big fiddle orchestras and fiddlers’ rallies all over Scotland, and then continued his passion for traditional Scottish music, in addition to forging a highly successful career as a corporate executive with an extensive background in corporate governance and regulatory policy with UK public companies and SMEs. Now Chief Executive of his own management services business, Donald continues to play a mean fiddle … and also an instrument called the Nyckelharpa – you’ll need to look it up!

John Angus Smith

Piper!

John-Angus Smith is a leading figure in the world of piping having been President of the Competing Pipers Association. In August 2015, he won the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering which qualified him to compete at the Glenfiddich Piping Championships, open only to the ten best pipers in the world. John-Angus plays with the band a few times a year and is our go-to piper for grand weddings and reeling balls.

Emily Kostulin

Fiddle and School Teacher!

Emily hails from Banchory, in the Northeast of Scotland, and studied violin in London gaining her BMus (Hons) from the Royal College of Music. She comes from a musical family. Her brother Russell is a well-known figure in the Aberdeen area and her mother also plays fiddle. Emily has played for several well-known artists, including Rod Stewart. She is now a full-time primary school teacher, although she often joins us for a wee tune!

Rob Alderton

Keyboards and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang consultant!

Rob played piano from a tender age and, with perfect pitch and natural musicianship, soon became a sought-after young musician. At college he studied Music and Theatre and qualified with a BA Hons in Performing Arts, studying piano, keyboards, bass guitar, singing, theatre sound and lighting, stage management, recording, and even dance! He’s played and conducted over 100 musical productions including Les Miserables and other West End shows. Somehow Rob now manages to balance playing keyboards with running his business hiring the official Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica road and stage cars and theatre props!