Hannah MacRae from Fort William is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2015. We asked Hannah the following questions:
How did you get involved in Scottish music?
Scottish music has been in my family for generations. My grandfather and his brothers and sister had a band called The Roshven Ceilidh Band. Although my grandfather passed away before I was born, I feel like he was my main inspiration to play tradition Scottish music. The Fèis movement was my first experience of playing an instrument, and I have been going to the local Fèis since I was five years old. The teachers I had and the musicians I was around during the Fèis weeks made me want to be like them; enjoy and be embedded in tradition music and Gaelic culture. So answering the question of how I got into Scottish music is quite hard for me – I don’t remember ever being without it.
Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
Every year I always look forward to watching the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award as the standard of musicians is always so high. Watching the competition latterly, I have been inspired by the amazing young musicians. Watching them was what encouraged me to put an application in for the competition. I wasn’t sure at first (I thought I was maybe too young or not experienced enough to live up to other musicians) but with the encouragement of my fiddle teacher and mum, I decided to go for it. I never expected to be accepted to the semi finals, and it was honestly one of the best musical experiences I have ever had the pleasure to be evolved in. Being in the finals is an overwhelming opportunity, and I am so pleased that I took the encouragment and advise from the people I look up to, and entered the competition.
What do you hope to gain from the experience?
I have already gained so much from this whole experience. The feedback from the judges at the semi finals was incredibly helpful and exactly what I was hoping I would gain from the competition. I have taken their advise and constructive criticism on board, and I feel like I have already developed as a player since the semi finals. At the finals, the fact it is recorded on both radio and television is an amazing opportunity and will hopefully give me confidence about doing these things more in the future. I’m hoping that the experience will lead me to more amazing opportunities like this, and help me have more evolvement in the traditional music scene.
Do you have any particular musical highlights?
I remember the first Blazin’ Fiddles concert I went to on my 10th birthday. I remember being in complete awe during the whole gig; watching every player, hoping I could be like them one day. I have known Iain MacFarlane and Allan Henderson really well since I was young, and because they are too from Lochaber, they have always been my ‘local inspirations’ and have shown me that musicains from small places can still do amazingly well. I remember watching them both at that gig (having never seen them performing on stage in front of a massive audience before) and being utterly inspired by them.
When I fourteen years old, I was asked to travel over to Carlow, Ireland to compete in the junior solo International fiddle competition, which I was delighted to win. I also competed in the duet competition with my fiddle teacher, the International New Song competition and the international group competition both with the band McAnta. I also had the honour of being asked to play at the opening ceremony of the Pan Celtic Festival, in front of the president of Ireland. For that, I played the duet with my teacher and performed a song with McAnta. Playing with this band at a large venue like that was and incredible insight into what it would be like to be in a band, which is what I’ve always wanted to do as a career.
Being accepted to the RCS was definitely a musical highlight, and moving to Glasgow as well has been such an incredible musical experience already. The number of musicians who I have grown up listening who I have met and been able to play with is overwhelming. I have still not gotten used to seeing my favourite musicians on nights out in Glasgow!
Being in the semi finals of the young traditional musician award was honestly the proudest musical highlight I have had. To have that weekend in Biggar was so good and being able to play with and get to know the other incredible young musicians who were there was a fantastic opportunity. It was also amazing having the experience of playing with such talented accompanists Mhairi Hall and Mike Bryan.
What are your plans for the future?
My main aim at the moment is to continue being successful in my BMus Scottish Music degree course. During the four years of this, I am hoping to collaborate with other young musicians in Glasgow – whether it’s by playing at sessions or doing gigs. It’s always been my main ambition to be in a touring trad band; playing the fiddle, Gaelic singing and step dancing.
Why not buy a ticket to hear Hannah MacRae or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday February 1st at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival. If you can’t make it along the event will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland between 5 & 8pm and on the iPlayer afterwards.
Catch BBC Music at Celtic Connections http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p039tgwn
and visit their Young Trad 2016 page