Crauford Thomson

Crauford was born into a household of musicians who would run ceilidhs in the front room regularly and in particular at Hogmanay.  Steeped in Scottish music, Crauford took up violin and singing at an early age; winning the McFarlane scholarship to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, was a member of the Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir and won the national MOD which lead to some singing on television as a boy soprano.  

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Later, Crauford started to gig as a bass player in a country rock band  He has played bass guitar for drum and bass record labels creating loops for tunes. He created the Synergy show with Heather Benson that toured nationally and internationally providing lead vocals and playing guitar and bass.

 

Later Crauford returned to his classical and Scottish folk roots when he and Heather Benson started 54 North.  Alongside 54 North, he plays fiddle in various ceilidh bands, runs a teaching practice and teaches for Lincolnshire Music Service.

Outside playing Crauford has produced plays for Theatre In Education,  directed large scale performances at Lincoln Cathedral and the International Bomber Command Centre as well as other performances. He is the Musical Director of the International Bomber Command Choir and Orchestra, producing the and works with composers to bring new works to life and runs a popular folk session based on rediscovering Scottish Folk Music.