Draft for review. Every word on this site is placeholder or suggestion until Kelvin, Rachel and David approve it. How this draft works
The Trows
Scottish fiddle music, Knoxville

The Players

Placeholder

The players

The Trows are built around two fiddlers in Knoxville, Tennessee, Kelvin Scott and Rachel Schott. More links are on the Links page.

Sources for this text
  • David Hall's brief (user-stated, not yet confirmed by Kelvin or Rachel)

For review:Neither introduction has been seen by Kelvin or Rachel. Each needs their own approval before it is treated as final. Words to settle with them early: violin or fiddle, and maker or luthier.

Kelvin Scott in his workshop, holding a violin, with tools on the wall behind him
Kelvin Scott in his workshop. Supplied by David Hall. Photographer to be credited.
Placeholder

Kelvin Scott

Kelvin Scott makes violins, violas and cellos at his studio in Knoxville, Tennessee, under the name Kelvin Scott Violins (KS Violins for short). He began playing the violin as a child.

He studied violin making at the Chicago School of Violin Making, then worked and studied with Gregg Alf, and has worked in Knoxville since 2003. His instruments have won medals at Violin Society of America and Cremona competitions.

He plays the violin in The Trows.

Sources for this text

For review:Left out on purpose, pending Kelvin's sign-off: where he was born, and his family's connection to North Ronaldsay in Orkney (stated in David's brief; some of the background is also in his own published bios). He has not yet said what he wants shown.

"He plays the violin in The Trows" is David's statement, not a public record. No public performance by Kelvin was found. Is violin or fiddle the word he prefers?

Not claimed: that he leads the Scottish session at Boyd's (see the Sessions page notes), any repair or rental service (his own site offers neither), or any price.

Placeholder

Kelvin elsewhere

Kelvin's work as a violin maker is described on his website. He also has pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Sources for this text

For review:More on the Links page, including a note about his site's security certificate. Which of his social pages does he want linked?

Suggestion

Questions for Kelvin

1. How should the Scottish session at Boyd's, and your part in it, be described?

2. May this page say where you were born, and mention your family's connection to North Ronaldsay?

3. How do you want to be described as a player, and which instrument do you play in The Trows?

4. Which Facebook and Instagram pages should be linked?

5. Who should be credited for the workshop photograph?

Sources for this suggestion
  • Research note in this repo: docs/research/2026-10-15_kelvin-scott.md

For review:The full list is on the draft page.

Rachel Schott, head and shoulders portrait, smiling
Rachel Schott. Supplied by David Hall. Photographer to be credited.
Placeholder

Rachel Schott

Rachel Schott is a violinist and fiddler based in Tennessee. She plays Celtic and American music, as her band does.

She is listed as a member of The Bloody Tinth, a Celtic rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, which formed in 2008. The band has played pubs and festivals in Ohio and other states.

In The Trows she plays alongside Kelvin Scott.

Sources for this text

For review:Bow making: to confirm with Rachel. David describes her as a developing violin-bow maker, but no public source was found, so this page does not say she makes bows. What does she do exactly (learning, an apprenticeship, her own workshop), and is there a name or page to link?

Also to confirm: whether she is still playing with The Bloody Tinth, which is based in Ohio; and whether she wants any role, education or work line shown. The sentences about the band describe the band, because no source says whether Rachel played its March 2023 dates at Boyd's Jig & Reel and on WDVX radio, so they are left out of her bio. "In The Trows she plays alongside Kelvin Scott" is David's statement, and no public source shows it yet. "Knoxville" for Rachel is also David's statement: "Tennessee" comes from her own Instagram bio, and no source names her city. Rachel, please confirm Knoxville. The band's own site carries a joke biography for each member, which is not used.

Placeholder

Rachel elsewhere

Rachel's band has a website at thebloodytinth.com. More links are on the Links page.

Sources for this text

For review:Which links does Rachel want? Her own Instagram is offered as a suggestion on the Links page, pending her approval.

Placeholder

Photographs

Two festival photographs.

For review:Festival name, year and photographer are not known. David supplied both photographs. One carries a photographer's watermark. Rachel, who took them?

Rachel Schott on a festival stage with a violin
Rachel Schott on a festival stage. Photographer to be credited.
Rachel Schott standing on a festival stage, holding a violin and bow, smiling
Rachel Schott on a festival stage. Photographer to be credited.
Suggestion

Questions for Rachel

1. Are you still playing with The Bloody Tinth, and is The Trows now your main band in Knoxville?

2. What would you like said about bow making, if anything?

3. Which links should appear: the band, your Instagram, a personal site?

4. Who took the festival photographs, and where and when?

5. Which tunes and styles do you most like to play?

Sources for this suggestion
  • Research note in this repo: docs/research/2026-10-15_rachel-schott.md

For review:The full list is on the draft page.

Suggestion

Other players

Other players who join Kelvin and Rachel can be listed here once they agree.

Sources for this suggestion
  • David Hall's brief (user-stated, not yet confirmed by Kelvin or Rachel)

For review:David says they play with other players in ensembles. No public source names anyone yet, so this block only holds a place.