Congratulations to the 12 semi-finalists in the 2025 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award. They are:
- Anna Robertson – Fiddle – Knoydart
- Annie Lennox – Piano – Aberdeenshire
- Ariana Black – Fiddle – Ellon, Aberdeenshire
- Chloë Bryce – Fiddle – Easter Ross, North Highlands
- Clelland Shand – Accordion – Fife
- Ellie Beaton – Voice – Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire
- Eoin Cumming – Accordion – Gairloch
- Finn Macpherson – Bagpipes/Whistles – West coast Highlands
- Laura Penman – Clarsach – Edinburgh
- Miguel Girão – Guitar – Portugal (now based in Scotland)
- Noah Scott – Piano – France (now based in Scotland)
- Roo Geddes – Fiddle – Glasgow
The semi-finals will be held on 13th October in the BBC Pacific Quay and each of the semi-finalists will perform for 10 minutes. 6 musicians will go through to the finals at Celtic Connections festival on 2nd February 2025. Each of the semi-finalists will get the opportunity to perform with guitarist Jenn Butterworth and piano player Jenn Austin.
The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award were started in 2000 and the most recent winner is Aberdeenshire guitarist and singer Calum McIlroy. Find out more about BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award at www.bbc.co.uk/youngtrad.
Read about the semi-finalists below.
Anna Robertson (Fiddle)
Anna Robertson is a talented traditional Scottish musician from Knoydart. Growing up, she attended local music festivals that sparked her love for playing with others. Her village’s vibrant music scene gave her chances to perform alongside well-known Scottish musicians. In high school, Anna toured with the Lochaber Ceilidh Trail and represented Scotland in China. She won medals at local and national music competitions. Anna learned from respected local musicians and recently finished her degree at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow. She has played at major events like Celtic Connections. In 2024, Anna formed an all-female band called Dàna with fellow graduates. She also plays in the Black Hills Ceilidh Band from Knoydart. For Anna, playing traditional Scottish music is a way to share her culture with others.
Annie Lennox (Song)
Annie Lennox grew up in rural Aberdeenshire, immersed in Scottish traditional music, Doric song, and bothy ballads. She plays fiddle and clarsach, and was named International Young Burnsian of the Year in 2013. Annie has performed with various groups, including Feis Rois ceilidh trails and the North East Folk collective, playing across the UK and internationally. She attended Sgoil Chiúl Na Gáidhealtachd, enhancing her musical skills. Annie balances careers in music and geology, teaching and performing regularly. She often performs with her family acapella band, Tripple, appearing at Celtic Connections 2024 and maritime festivals in Europe. Annie is set to release a CD with Tripple in 2024.
Ariana Black (Fiddle)
Ariana Black started learning classical violin at age 7 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Her interest in traditional music began when she joined the Ythan Fiddlers. ‘The Gaitherin’ in Aberdeenshire provided her with traditional music inspiration during school years. Ariana attended Aberdeen City Music School, where she formed a band called ‘Talisman’. They performed at gigs, won prizes at music festivals, and played at Belladrum in 2021. Moving to Glasgow allowed Ariana to immerse herself in the traditional music culture. She graduated from the Royal Conservatoire with a Bachelor of Education in Music. Ariana enjoys sharing her love of traditional music with young people as a teacher.
Chloë Bryce (Fiddle)
Chloë Bryce, originally from Easter Ross in the North Highlands, was introduced to Traditional Music through the Fèis movement. She studied at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton and graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with First Class Honours in Traditional Music. Chloë is inspired by Scotland’s vibrant folk scene and is particularly interested in sourcing music from the North Highlands. She enjoys finding old material and creating her own interpretations. Chloë also composes her own music and has been commissioned for various projects. She performs with several musicians and groups, including her trio with Megan MacDonald and Calum McIlroy.
Clelland Shand (Accordion)
Clelland Shand grew up in a family where traditional music was a constant presence. He began accordion lessons at age eight under Keith Dickson, learning various styles including Scottish, Irish, and French traditional music. Clelland formed a band called ‘The Shands’ with his siblings, performing at various gigs and on BBC Radio Scotland. They were awarded the Up & Coming Artist of the year at the 2023 MG ALBA Music Awards. Clelland has been accepted onto the BEd music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He enjoys composing and has written a jig titled ‘Cleaning The Sambas’. Clelland finds great pleasure in playing to live audiences.
Ellie Beaton (Voice)
Ellie Beaton, from Rothienorman in the North-East of Scotland, is an award-winning singer steeped in the traditions of Aberdeenshire. She grew up immersed in the rich vocal styles of the region. During her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ellie became the youngest recipient of the MG Alba Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year in 2021. Her music has taken her across the UK and Europe, performing at festivals such as Celtic Connections and Festival Interceltique de Lorient. In 2023, she completed her first international tour across Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. Ellie recently graduated from Classical Vocal Studies and plans to release her debut album in 2025.
Eoin Cumming (Accordion)
Eoin Cumming has been involved in traditional music and Gaelic culture from a young age. He began playing the accordion at 5 and later took up the bagpipes. Gaelic is his first language, and he has competed in national and local Mòds. Eoin attended the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton and is now in his final year of a music degree at the University of Edinburgh. He has been part of the Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail for three years, performing at festivals like Cambridge Folk Festival. Eoin is currently in a new band called the Grange Project with Matthew Duncan and Archie MacLean.
Finn Macpherson (Bagpipes/Whistles)
Finn Macpherson grew up in the West coast Highlands of Scotland, surrounded by traditional music. He started learning the chanter at 9 and joined the Lochalsh Junior pipe band at 13. Finn participated in Feis an Earraich from ages 10-16 and toured with their ceilidh trail. He completed an HNC in traditional music at Riverside college and is now in his 3rd year studying Highland bagpipes at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Finn has performed with the Grit Orchestra and plays regularly with ‘Valtos’ at various festivals. He’s also part of the band ‘Falasgair’. Finn is passionate about preserving and celebrating Scotland’s rich traditional music culture.
Laura Penman (Clarsach)
Laura Penman was introduced to the clarsach at primary school in Edinburgh, where she attended a Gaelic school. She continued her musical journey at the Edinburgh Fèis and later at the RCS Juniors. Laura’s time at Juniors showed her that being a successful traditional musician was a viable option. She recently graduated from the BMus Traditional Music course at the Royal Conservatoire. Laura has performed at festivals including Celtic Connections and The Scots Fiddle Festival. Her recent projects involve performing with singer Beth Malcolm and forming a Gaelic song band called Duan. She also formed an all-female band called Dàna with fellow RCS students.
Miguel Girão (Guitar)
Miguel Girão, originally from Portugal, has been involved in traditional music for over 10 years. He values the deep sense of belonging that comes from contributing to a centuries-old musical tradition. Miguel recently graduated from the BMus Traditional Music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, after completing a degree in classical guitar performance in Lisbon. His playing style combines techniques like strumming, flatpicking, and fingerpicking, with influences from classical, traditional, jazz, and contemporary music. Miguel appreciates the sense of community in traditional music and the opportunity it provides to share and gain knowledge about music and its cultural background.
Noah Scott (Piano)
Noah Scott is a traditional musician and composer currently studying piano on the Traditional Music Degree at the RCS. Noah got into traditional music through playing in sessions on the Isle of Skye. He moved from France to Glasgow at age 14 to pursue his aspirations as a Scottish traditional musician. Noah studied at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton and the Junior Conservatoire. He has participated in projects such as the Gordon Duncan Experience and Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail. Noah was commissioned to write a piece for the National Youth Pipe Band. He recently formed a Clarinet and Accordion duo (CaN Dubh) with Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul, winning a Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections 2024.
Roo Geddes (Fiddle)
Roo Geddes discovered traditional music at age 11 at Alasdair Fraser’s fiddle camp on the Isle of Skye. Growing up in Glasgow, he was exposed to a wide range of musical styles. Roo studied at the Glasgow Folk Workshop and RCS juniors before pursuing Classical violin and becoming the first violinist to study on the RCS’s Jazz Department. He enjoys blending different musical influences in his fiddle playing. Roo is involved in various musical projects, including his duo Roo & Neil, the Americana trio Awkward Family Portraits, and Celtic Rock outfit Jonny Mac and the Faithful. He has recently toured with Rod Stewart and performed in Australia with Dallahan.
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