Conceived in 2000 by Catriona MacDonald (b. Shetland Isles, Scotland), this ensemble is an international project that brings together six leading female fiddlers in a celebration of traditional music from around the world. MacDonald was joined by Natalie MacMaster (b. 13 June 1972, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada), Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh (b. 1962, Gweedore, County Donegal, Eire), Liz Knowles (b. USA), Liz Carroll (b. Chicago, Illinois, USA), and Annbjørg Lien (b. 1971, Alesund, Norway), with the sextet’s first performance taking place at the 2001 Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. A repeat performance followed in 2002, but the members’ various commitments meant the project was then put on ice. They reunited at the end of 2005 to tour Norway, with Emma Härdelin (b. Sweden) taking the place of MacMaster. The tour was recorded and filmed for a subsequent live album and DVD.