Born in Snowdonia to a Macedonian mother and an English father, Lydia Ristova Whittaker is a violinist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher of renown. Classically trained and steeped in the traditions of her mother's homeland, and further incorporating elements of traditional fiddle playing, Lydia's music transcends genre.

At the age of 16, she was selected to represent her country at an international school in British Columbia, the Lester B. Pearson UWC of the Pacific. Combined with her bi-cultural heritage, the experiences in Canada gave her a passion for international understanding and collaboration. Lydia then went on to study the violin at RWCMD in Cardiff, The Newcastle Conservatory in  

Australia, and finally RNCM in Manchester. She now teaches the instrument in Northamptonshire, and combines that with freelancing as a violinist as well as composing and arranging music. In addition to her solo work, Lydia is a member of the Anglo-Eastern-European quartet, 'Lebedek',  who draw on their Ukrainian, Macedonian, Polish, Jewish and English roots to create a unique blend of music. Prior to the formation of 'Lebedek', she toured in Europe as the virtuoso fiddler in a production of the Irish dance extravaganza 'Spirit of the Dance'. She also appeared in Patsy Reid’s 'Bridging the Gap' at Celtic Connections in Glasgow in 2008, touring with them in 2010, and collaborated with the American band 'Elephant Revival' in Colorado, in 2009.