We are very lucky in Scottish traditional music to have amazing musicians and brilliant organisations. However most of the musicians and organisations wouldn’t be able to learn or operate without the help of passionate teachers, volunteers and mentors within the community. These people’s work (although appreciated) often goes uncelebrated so Hands Up for Trad have decided to do something about this. We have created a new section in the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame called Services to Community. In 2015 we have inducted 5 people without whom traditional music would be a poorer place. They are:
Doris Rougvie
Frank McArdle
Jessie Newton
Kirsteen Graham
Sheila Sapkota
Read about them here http://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/services-to-community/
Also in 2015 we have started our first Services to Broadcasting section in the Hall of Fame. The 2015 recipient is Stewart Cruickshank, an award winning radio producer who has worked and interviewed folk stars to pop starts. Read about Stewart here .
http://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/services-to-broadcasting/
Jim Gilchrist has written about each inductee and Louis DeCarlo has taken their photos. Click here to read all about them.
Simon Thoumire, creative director of Hands Up for Trad said
“What a privilidge to celebrate these inductees. Each one of them has given so much to so many and traditional music owes them a large debt of gratitude.”
The Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to celebrate musicians and industry people without whom traditional music can’t do without. Read about all our inductees at www.halloffame.scot
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Doris Rougvie
Doris Rougvie has devoted a lifetime to both singing and promoting traditional music. She is a moving force behind many concerts, workshops and other events. The Scottish folk scene would not be the same without her.
Frank McArdle
Frank McArdle has taught and inspired generations of young musicians, through evening classes and the Roch’s Secondary School now legendary ceilidh band. In the words of a grateful former pupil, champion accordionist Gerry Conlon, “Frank has given many the gift of music.”
Jessie Newton
Jessie Newton’s idea of starting a Fèis in Edinburgh was greeted enthusiastically by the city’s Gaelic community and by local musicians. She ensured that nobody was excluded from taking part in the Fèis and that it has one of the most effective, year-round programmes of classes. Nineteen years on, Jessie remains the organisation’s voluntary organiser and chairperson of its committee.
Kirsteen Graham
Gaelic singing tutor Kirsteen Graham has imbued her pupils with a love of their native song, but outside school hours she has thrown herself into running and managing Fèis an Earraich, nurturing young singers and musicians throughout Skye and Lochalsh. As Arthur Cormack says “Skye’s cultural activities would be much worse off without her input.”
Sheila Sapkota
Sheila Sapkota established Riddell Fiddles in the Scottish Borders in 2003. Twelve years on the organisation has introduced several hundred people from all backgrounds, generations and ability levels to traditional fiddling and the sheer delight of making music together.
Stewart Cruickshank
Over the past couple of decades, Stewart has been behind the scenes of such long-running staples as Travelling Folk and Iain Anderson’s show. Outside the folk scene, however, he also produced BBC Radio 2 series on such celebrities as Ray Davies, the Sex Pistols and The Who, and spent time in California and New York interviewing Jackson Browne and Lou Reed In 2000 he was awarded an FRSA (Fellowship of the Royal Society of the Arts) for his contribution to UK music radio.
The Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame is organised by Hands Up for Trad www.handsupfortrad.scot
Contact Simon Thoumire, Hands Up for Trad, Melville House, 70 Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2RH
info@handsupfortrad.scot