Lela Mai

Lela Mai Violinist Lela Mai started playing violin at 7yrs.old and soon joined her brothers and sisters to form the family 'orchestra' performing at local festivals and events (she was part of a numerous and musical family). Music was her first and only love and she used to bunk off school in order to find a place where she could practice her violin undisturbed. She started studying a BA(Hons) in Music and Drama at Music College but left before completing the course in order to immerse herself more fully in Folk Music and folk, for which her course did not allow. She spent a few years in London and then travelled in Europe and in Asia discovering and immersing herself in various musical cultures around the world. She then settled in a musical community in Italy where she immersed herself in Italian folk music including Tarantella and Pizzica. She has a keen interest in African rhythm and Dance which she has enriched on her various visits to West Africa. Traditional and contempory Irish Folk music also figure largely as influences to her musical style. She now lives in Glastonbury ,Somerset where she works teaching and performing music.