- February 5, 2025
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It was a breathtaking view as the plane flew above the clouds and the Himalayan mountain ridge that runs along the border of Tibet and Nepal.
As the plane began to fly over the famous Mount Everest, a man on board started playing a lively melody on his fiddle. It was only for a few seconds, but the moment is one that the musician, Port Orange resident Colin MacLeod, will remember forever.
That day, Nov. 26, 2017, MacLeod had brought his lifelong love for playing the fiddle to a new level as part of his goal to "take Celtic fiddle playing to new inspirational heights."
MacLeod's journey to Mount Everest began not in Asia or even in Florida; it began in Scotland where he was born and grew up. It was in Scotland that MacLeod first found a love of music. He remembers there was always violin music playing in the background of his parents' home, and he recalls going to visit his grandparents where a violin was kept in the attic.
MacLeod's grandfather bought the violin in Russia while in the Maritime Navy. According to MacLeod, the story goes that his grandfather was chased out of a Russian village by a group of women because he was wearing a kilt. Whether the story was a tall tale or not, that violin and the music at his home led MacLeod to begin playing the violin at the age of seven.
When MacLeod was at school, he volunteered to play the violin in the school orchestra. Before long, a music teacher noticed his talent and suggested he join a group of musicians that specialized in playing Scottish music.
"I got my first music folder with a red cover," MacLeod said. "It was faded from being photocopied so many times. It was such a joy to me."
MacLeod began going to different festivals before eventually going on to compete on the national level and in the Golden Fiddle Awards. It was during this time that MacLeod not only began traveling but was able to "experience freedom through music."
When MacLeod graduated high school, he went to Edinburgh University to study economics and accounting but would still play music on the side. MacLeod said because he spent much of his time behind a desk as an accountant, music was a way to recharge and get back in balance.
This was MacLeod's routine for most of his 20s. Then in 1998, he was invited to go to Australia with friends, where he bought a violin when he arrived and began playing as they traveled around. After this trip, his work sent him to Cape Town for a project where he followed the same pattern of buying a violin in South Africa and playing during his free time.
Upon his return to Scotland MacLeod was faced with a two-hour commute to and from work. One day, the tire on his car blew, causing him to swerve into a barrier. That moment changed his future.
"I thought, what was the point in doing this?" MacLeod said.
MacLeod got a visa to work in Australia and in 2004 emigrated to the country, where he worked as an accountant and played music. He was eventually sponsored by the Victorian government and went on to teach music. Then, about two-and-a-half-years ago, he finally made the full switch to working on his music full-time.
Since that time, he has traveled around the world with his violin. It was while he was in Nepal that he saw a beer glass that said "Everest" on it, and it inspired him to find a way to play his music above the mountain. And now that he can add playing the fiddle at 30,000 feet to his resume, he has another goal: to make it into the Guinness World Book Records for taking Celtic music to new inspirational heights.
Until he gets official confirmation that he's set a record, MacLeod has settled into his new home in Port Orange. It's a place where he plans to be for several years and where he can continue to share his love for music and bring something positive to his community.
"I want to inspire people to take the next step in their life and enjoy life. " MacLeod said. "For me, music builds community. You can take things to new heights with music; it turns moments into memories."
