Biography
Born in France, Fanny ‘Fay’ Guiffo is a French Cameroonian violinist and awarded cross-disciplinary artist. She is a performer, composer, writer, and creative director based in Edinburgh.
Learning classical violin from an early age, she perfected her practice at the Ecole Normale De Musique De Paris and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Performance (Pôle Sup’93, 2018). She obtained a Master’s degree in Music Education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2021).
Since then, she has been working with renowned organisations such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and invited to perform in various festivals (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, ...). Fay has also collaborated with eminent musicians such as David-Paul Jones, Brownbear and Young Fathers (soundtrack for the film 28 Years Later dir. by Danny Boyle).
Passionate about storytelling and visual arts, she has been commissioned by the film festival Africa in Motion (Glasgow, 2019) to direct and compose the music for the screening/live performance of Within our gates, a film about racial injustice directed by Oscar Micheaux (1920). Promoting female empowerment, she has produced, written and directed her own music films Queen of Hearts (Women of the Lens Film Festival, 2020) and Spanish Dance (Finalist at the Oniros Film Awards® - New York, 2021).
Alongside her music career, Fay trained in various dance styles and developed her skills as an actor- musician. This versatile skill set led her to perform in theatre productions such as Once Upon a Snowstorm, (2021/22, Lyra Theatre Company) and Death of a Salesman directed by Andy Arnold (UK Tour 2025, Raw Material/Trafalgar Entertainment), in dance productions such as SKETCHES directed by Katie Armstrong (Made in Scotland Showcase, 2023) and in the experimental work The Immortal Sisterhood Live created by Gemma Cairney (The British Library, Factory International; 2026).
Engaging with questions of identity, sense of belonging, and freedom, Fay created her debut show Arcana, a poetic music theatre work which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026 as part of the Made in Scotland showcase. Arcana was awarded Runner Up for the Leading Light award for outstanding Scottish productions at the Edinburgh Fringe (Scottish Theatre Awards, 2026).
‘Arcana is a gorgeous, dreamlike piece of beautiful work...Enchanting [and] delicate, Guiffo sparkles on
the stage.’
★★★★ All Edinburgh Theatre
CV is available at the bottom of the page.
Art and Poetic Empowerment
"As far back as I can remember, art has been there when I needed it. By playing the violin, improvising a dance, or writing, I could connect with my deepest self and express both the simplicity and complexity of my feelings. A sense of fulfilment emerged, either as a confirmation for positive emotions, or as a reminder that although things might not be light and bright at the moment, there was still room for hope and courage. In times of need, I realized that practicing art helped not only me, but also other people, to overcome fear and rewrite the negative narrative that they subconsciously impose onto their mind.
As a response to this awareness, I strongly believe that art has the power to transform our lives, to help us face great challenges and to build meaningful connections with people. To align my artistic practice with this power, I focus on designing narrative lines. I believe that connecting with our own life-stories can empower people to discover what is meaningful to them. For these reasons, I want my music to speak from my heart. I want my movements to liberate my body and to claim the space it needs, so that my audience feel inspired to take more agency in their own lives. Fundamentally, I want my art to stimulate authentic connections between me, people I work with and my audience. In this journey, I will encourage people to overcome fear, to embrace their dreams, and to live their life with courage and authenticity. We can all grow from inside, extending our branches like a beech tree widening its leafy canopy. We can transform our life and create a positive impact on others by honouring inward and outward connections. It all begins with listening to our deepest self."
Fay Guiffo
