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Betty Beaton

Cape Breton

Betty Lou Beaton began playing piano at the age of five. Although she had a couple of years of piano training, she learned Cape Breton-style playing by ear. At 14 years of age, Betty started playing dances with her brother Buddy MacMaster and has been accompanying fiddlers for dancers ever since. Her talent has earned international acclaim, and she has taught at Colaisde na Gàidhlig / the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, the Ceilidh Trail School of Music in Inverside Cape Breton, Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington, USA, and Ceòlas in South Uist, Scotland. Betty’s distinct, flowing accompaniment has been featured on numerous albums and recordings including the Smithsonian Folkways recording The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music and, most recently, her daughter Andrea’s 2016 release, Andrea Beaton with Betty and Dave. Betty will be performing with her husband Kinnon and their daughter Andrea during Celtic Colours this year.

Festival Performances

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