Born in Edinburgh, Yla Steven’s life has been a testament to her unwavering passion for Scottish traditional fiddle music. Her unique name, a nod to the old spelling of Glen Isla in Perthshire, where she spent her early years, has foreshadowed her connection to the music and culture of Scotland.
Yla’s musical journey began at the age of seven when she started learning the violin in Edinburgh. As her family moved to Blairgowrie, Perthshire, she continued her studies, honing her skills under the tutelage of Harry C. Ogilvie, whose father had taught the renowned Ian Powrie of the White Heather Club. It was during these formative years that Steven’s love for Scottish traditional fiddle music truly blossomed, and she soon found herself entertaining at various events throughout her teenage years.
In the early 1970s, Yla began to make her mark on the competitive fiddle scene, participating in all the major Fiddle Festivals in Scotland. Her talent and dedication were quickly recognised, as she claimed Championship Awards at Kirriemuir, Banchory, and Aberdeen. A crowning achievement came in 1976 when she became the inaugural winner of the Daily Record’s Golden Fiddle Award. Throughout her competitive years, Steven had the privilege of receiving mentorship from some of the greatest names, including Sandy Milne, Hector McAndrew, and Tom Anderson.
In 1977, she performed as part of “An Edinburgh Fancy” at a Silver Jubilee Concert for the Queen and Prince Philip at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. She has also had the honour of playing for Princess Anne and Prince Philip on separate occasions, as well as for violin virtuosos such as Yehudi Menuhin, Max Rostal, and Yfrah Neamen.
For nearly four decades, Yla devoted herself to nurturing the next generation of Scottish fiddlers, teaching violin, viola, and cello for the City of Edinburgh Council. Her most significant contribution during this time was the founding of the Lothian Schools Strathspey and Reel Society, which she led for over thirty years. Under her guidance, the group became one of the most celebrated Strathspey & Reel Societies in Scotland, winning the orchestra competition at the Angus Society’s Fiddle Festival eight times and performing across the country and abroad, with tours to Germany, Argentina, Canada, and the United States.
Some of Yla’s former pupils joined her in the Festival City Players, a group that found success at the Edinburgh Festival in 1978 with their production of “An Edinburgh Edition,” marking the bicentenary of the Edinburgh Edition of Robert Burns poems. The group also played for several years for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’s demonstration team, touring in Holland and the Soviet Union.
Now retired and living in Blackford, Perthshire, Yla continues to share her passion for Scottish fiddle music. As the Musical Director of the Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society, she has welcomed many of her former pupils from the Lothian Schools Strathspey and Reel Society, injecting fresh energy into the group. The Edinburgh Society has also established a Junior Section to ensure the continuation of the tradition that she has worked so hard to preserve.
Yla’s expertise as a fiddle tutor and adjudicator at fiddle festivals remains in high demand. In 1980, she was a founding member of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and was thrilled when John Mason invited her to become its principal soloist. With the SFO, she has performed in prestigious venues across the country, from Lerwick, Shetland, and then to the Albert Hall in London, and has carried on with this journey touring in Canada, Ireland, and China.
Throughout her illustrious career, Yla has graced the stages of most of the world’s great concert halls and has numerous recordings to her credit. Her contributions to Scottish music were recognised in 2015 when she was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
As the third Leader of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra since its formation in 1980, following in the footsteps of Willie Dunlop and Bill Cook, Yla Steven continues to inspire and guide the next generation of Scottish musicians. Her life’s work is a shining example of the power of music to unite, inspire, and preserve cultural heritage for generations to come.