Congratulations to Fiona Dalgetty who has been nominated in Industry Person of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025. Vote now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 6th December in Aberdeen Music Hall. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Fiona of Fiona Dalgetty the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Fiona Dalgetty has been Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Fèis Rois since April 2009. In that time, she has significantly grown the charity and ensured it continues to provide transformative opportunities for people of all ages to participate in traditional music. Fiona leads a team of seven staff who collectively contract around 180 freelance musicians each year to deliver a diverse range of programmes across the Highlands, Scotland and beyond.
She is a strong advocate for collaboration over competition. This approach has driven cross-disciplinary partnership projects that benefit both communities and artists. Fiona was a key member of the small team that secured millions of pounds to develop the Dandelion project in 2022. At the same time as developing Dandelion, she brought together several artists and cultural organisations to establish the Highland Culture Collective in 2021.
Fiona is currently leading on a number of major elements of Dingwall 800, a year-long celebration planned for 2026 to mark 800 years of the town’s Royal Burgh status. She is also working towards opening a new traditional music and cultural venue in Dingwall in winter 2025.
Before joining Fèis Rois, Fiona held a variety of roles including Cultural Coordinator for the City of Edinburgh Council, Development Worker for the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin and fiddle tutor for the Scots Music Group and Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop. She is a former Chair of the Traditional Music Forum and has served as an advisor to the Scottish Arts Council and Creative Scotland.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Traditional Scottish music has been woven through my life for as long as I can remember. No one in my immediate family played an instrument, yet the soundtrack of my childhood was filled with it. Robbie Shepherd would be on the radio every Sunday when we would visit my Great Granny. We would listen to Calum Kennedy LPs at home, and we’d go to ceilidhs in the local village halls where the music and dance brought everyone together, regardless of age or background.
I started Highland dancing when I was four, so lots of tunes were already familiar to me before I picked up an instrument.
Thanks to Fèis Rois, I tried the fiddle for the first time in primary school and absolutely loved it. I kept playing and was lucky to attend Tain Royal Academy, where I was a founding member of Gizzenbriggs and benefitted from the guidance of inspiring tutors and teachers like Debbie Ross and Kathryn Wilkie.
Traditional music is a huge part of who I am. I feel that it connects me to my community, my heritage and to the generations who came before. I play my Great Great Grandfather’s fiddle.
I believe passionately that everyone should have the opportunity to make music, and have the chance to explore the culture of the place in which they live. In a globalised world, traditional music offers a vital sense of belonging. It brings people together, creates shared joy and conviviality, and strengthens communities. I think this is all needed more than ever, which is why I continue to be involved in Scottish music.
Any particular career highlights?
I have had the pleasure of facilitating many performance opportunities for young people and, for me, it’s always a highlight to see the sheer excitement on their faces when they come off stage after a big performance.
One of the most joyous moments was when I took a group of around 40 young musicians to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Youth Proms in 2011, with Corrina Hewat as Musical Director. Many of the young people who played that night have gone on to play professionally, and I’m betting some will be nominated for Trad Awards this year!
Another standout moment was when a large group from Fèis Rois joined with some of our friends from the National Celtic Festival in Australia to perform at a Burns Night gig at The Hydro in Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections in 2014. They were playing along with the RSNO and it was televised.
What I find equally meaningful is the everyday highlight of seeing how playing music, and feeling a part of something bigger, can change people’s lives. I’m fortunate to witness this in individuals of all ages through my work every day.
I am privileged to get to travel a lot with my work, and collaborative projects and trips to Australia and Vietnam have definitely been a career highlight. Another highlight was, after Fèis Rois commissioned John Somerville to write a suite of music inspired by the voyage of The Hector, when we travelled to Pictou and played some of the music on the replica ship.
Finally, as someone who leads an organisation, securing significant funds to ensure the future of Fèis Rois has been deeply rewarding. It’s not just about survival – it’s about creating opportunity, sustaining legacy and also enabling the next generation.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue advocating for traditional music and doing everything I can to support the strength and sustainability of our sector.
I am especially excited about the future of Fèis Rois. We are working hard to open a new traditional music and cultural venue in Dingwall, which will give musicians, learners and audiences a welcoming home and create new possibilities for collaboration and creativity. Alongside this, I am leading some work with partners and the wider community to celebrate Dingwall 800 in 2026. This will be a moment to shine a light on the town’s history and heritage, and to bring people together in a year-long programme of events.
For myself, I hope to carve out more time to play music. Returning to the fiddle more often feels important, not only as part of my identity but as a way to stay connected to the joy that first brought me to traditional music.
I guess my future plans are rooted in community, creativity and doing what I can to help keep our music thriving for generations to come.
Fiona Dalgetty Social Media
Website: https://feisrois.org/
Facebook: @fionadalgettyarts
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The 2025 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 6th December 2025 in Aberdeen Music Hall! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night in the Granite City will also welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including beloved singer Hannah Rarity, UK folk legends The Poozies, trad pop band Mec Lir and BBC Radio scotland Young Traditional Musician and Scots Performer o the Year Ellie Beaton and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.