Highland Society of London are sponsors of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024 and are sponsoring Gaelic Singer of the Year. We asked them some questions about their experience of sponsoring the Trad Awards. If you would like to come to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards you can buy tickets here or watch on BBC ALBA from 9pm on Saturday 30th November.
Thanks to Alex Ogilvie from Highland Society of London for answering these questions.
Why have you chosen to sponsor Na Trads, and what importance does the event hold for your sector?
The Highland Society of London has a long history of supporting and promoting the culture and traditions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and Gaelic song has always been at the forefront of this – whether in the more traditional setting of the Royal National Mòd or the increasingly vibrant commercial sector that is celebrated at Na Trads. The Society believes that competition is one of the many valid ways of driving engagement – either through encouraging more artists to perform in Gaelic at all levels, or through bringing their music to a wider audience. The Gaelic Singer of the Year award at Na Trads is the blue riband event for Gaelic singing, and the Society is proud to be the sponsor.
What makes your organisation tick?
The Highland Society of London is a charity, most of whose members live in or around London but have strong links with the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. As a charity, we are dependent on volunteers and voluntary donations – but building on the foundation of nearly 250 years of activity in this sector. Most recently, our focus has been on supporting competitions within the arts, both blue riband events but also entry-level events. We give the Gold Medals for Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting; but also the MacGregor Memorial for young pipers. We present the Highland Book Prize, and the Fiction prize at the Gaelic Literature Awards; but also give an award for the best dissertation on a Highland theme at UHI. We sponsor the Highland Art Prize, and give an award for the best work by a Highlander at the RSA Annual Exhibition; but also fund internships at Circus Artspace in Inverness.
What are you most looking forward to about the Trad Awards or do you have a favourite moment from over the years?
I love the energy in the room and the fact that, by the end, everyone is dancing at the front. Whether it is the proximity to the holiday season or, as Simon said at some point in the last couple of years, “Scottish traditional music suddenly became cool” – this is an event not to be missed.
What would you say to anyone who is considering entering, voting in, watching or attending the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards?
Na Trads is a celebration not only of the performers, but also those who work behind the scenes to ensure that the performers get seen and heard. However (and to whatever extent) you engage with Na Trads, you are providing validation to all involved that Scottish traditional music of all forms remains important and will continue to remain important for many years to come.
Performing at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are Skipinnish, Julie Fowlis, An Dannsa Dub, Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr, Young Highland Musicians and much more! Buy your tickets here.
