From Madonna to the Mod and beyond

A Clarsach player who entertained the pop star Madonna at her Scottish wedding swept the boards at the Royal National Mod in Perth yesterday.

Jennifer Port, from the village of Golspie, north of Inverness, won four medals in what was probably the most impressive individual performance of the day.

A graduate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the 23-year-old hopes her success at the Mod will help to establish her career as a professional clarsach player.

“At the moment, I suppose you could say that I am a full-time freelance musician. I am just gigging all the time. I spend more of my time in the car than anything else.”

There are few ordinary people, like Ms Port, who have come into personal contact with Madonna. Ms Port performed when the pop icon was married at Skibo Castle four years ago.

Ms Port said that Madonna was impressed with her clarsach-playing abilities.

“It was a bit different to playing in a Mod competition, but, yes, I spoke to her and she did seem to really like my playing,” said Ms Port.

Article by Murray Macleod
Source: Scotsman.com