Born in Nelson B.C, Dougal McLean is a versatile musician who grew into his abilities after a very early start in music. His mother was an elementary school music teacher for 20 years in Prince George, B.C., and bestowed on him a keen interest in many instruments, especially the violin. As a youth he studied at the Prince George Conservatory of Music with various orchestral musicians, and with distinguished Metis fiddler Sandra Flavel. At 17, Dougal took his instruments to UVic and began an entirely new adventure. There he met numerous like-minded musicians and was soon touring the country and beyond, as a performing and recording artist.
In 2005, Dougal moved to Vancouver in and for the next 5 years studied under Toni Stanick of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. In addition to his classical training, Dougal continued to play the fiddle and perform with popular Canadian artists at major festivals on some of the best stages in Canada including the Royal and McPherson Theatres, Orpheum Vancouver, and the Commodore Ballroom.
As a teacher, Dougal draws from a wide variety of methods including Suzuki and RCM; is well versed in fiddle styles; and is trained in supplementary musical techniques such as Orff and Solfege. Most recently, Dougal spent two terms studying with Michael van der Sloot in Victoria. In addition to the fiddle/violin, Dougal plays the mandolin, guitar, electronic instruments, and is a talented vocalist.