Music really is our daily medicine.

My favorite instrument is the snare drum. In Scotland, the snare drum is very prominent in Highland bands. The Scottish style of playing is in my blood. It's a very powerful instrument, but it can also be soothing, like velvet. It's a real challenge for composers.

The human body and mind are tremendous forces that are continually amazing scientists and society. Therefore, we have no choice but to keep an open mind as to what the human being can achieve.

Concerts have to be seen as a real event for which the aim is to try and feed everybody.

I try to plant myself where I am and embrace what is there in front of me.

Music is about communication... it isn't just something that maybe physically sounds good or orally sounds interesting; it's something far, far deeper than that.

Apart from Scottish traditional music, I wasn't really influenced by any kind of music. I just basically followed my own instincts.