Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie was born on July 19, 1965, in Aberdeen, Scotland. Herbert Glennie, Evelyn’s father was a beef farmer, and her mother, Isobel Glennie, was a school teacher. Evelyn also had two brothers. Her mother played the organ and her father played accordion with a Scottish country dance band. When Evelyn turned eight she began having symptoms of hearing loss. Her ears progressively worsened. At the age of 11 she was required to wear a hearing aid. Evelyn was a musically gifted child and was a superior at playing the piano and clarinet. Evelyn had perfect pitch, and a great ability to identify or sing a note by ear. After wearing a hearing aid a few months she thought it got in her way, so she proceeded without wearing it.
