{"id":4853,"date":"2021-11-02T00:00:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T00:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/?p=4853"},"modified":"2021-11-01T14:40:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T14:40:47","slug":"mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2021-michael-bryan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2021-michael-bryan\/","title":{"rendered":"MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021: MICHAEL BRYAN"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Congratulations to MICHAEL BRYAN who have been nominated in Music Tutor of the Year Award sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021. Vote here! Vote now!<\/a><\/p>\n

We asked MICHAEL BRYAN the following questions.<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself<\/strong>
\nI am extremely humbled by this nomination, and very grateful to be recognised in such highly esteemed company.<\/p>\n

I would describe myself as a freelance accompanist and tutor, originally from Strathkanaird (just north of Ullapool) via Terre-Haute, Indiana.<\/p>\n

I have been living in Glasgow for the last twenty years, and while specialising in traditional Scottish music I have been lucky enough to perform and educate across many genres – from numerous collaborations with Bhangra producers \u2018Tigerstyle\u2019, performing with ‘The Edinburgh Quartet\u2019, recording with rappers to currently playing with Paisley born blues singer and writer\/publisher Linda Jackson.<\/p>\n

Growing up I was lucky to benefit tremendously from some incredible teachers – Alex Siezcarek imparted to me incredible wisdom and the Suzuki method on classical violin, and although I quit the orchestral world in my early teens to pursue my Nirvana fetish, I learned so much about musicianship and discipline from that environment.<\/p>\n

I then embarked on a period of self tuition on the guitar (there were no guitar tutors in easy reach of Ullapool) save for two weeks of the year when I would attend the now legendary F\u00e8is Rois, where I was lucky enough to be inspired by many wonderful tutors – particularly Terry Small, Jim Hunter, Ishbel MacAskill and Gillian Mackenzie. I also must give huge credit to Valerie Bryan, well known as Ullapool High School Music teacher; editor of \u2018Ce\u00f2l nam F\u00e8is 1 &2\u2019 and lead tutor (in conjunction with Andy Thorburn) of F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal tutor training for 15 years.<\/p>\n

In my early twenties I was asked to cover some classes by Jessie Newton for \u2018F\u00e8is Dhun Eideann\u2019, and I quickly discovered that seeing young people enjoying learning music was extremely rewarding.<\/p>\n

Engaging young people in traditional Scottish music and fusing it with other genres has become an almost all-encompassing passion of mine and I have worked for numerous organisations covering multiple genres of musical education in this field. I am a passionate advocate of the immeasurable and infinite benefits of learning music to the human experience.<\/p>\n

My classical training, background in orchestral performance and choral singing as well as my practical experience gained over the last two decades has allowed me to develop skills necessary to engage with musicians from widely varying backgrounds.<\/p>\n

It brings me a tremendous joy when I see ex-pupils of mine touring the world, winning awards and carving highly successful careers within the ever expanding world of Scottish traditional music.<\/p>\n

Just as importantly I take immense pride when I see pupils of mine who might be struggling in mainstream education or have learning difficulties gaining in confidence and self esteem from the immeasurably rewarding experience of learning to play music.<\/p>\n

I believe unequivocally that every child in Scotland must have access to high quality and continuous musical education and that it falls upon our wider community of educators to ensure that our elected representatives make certain that this is the case.<\/p>\n

Why are you involved in Scottish music?<\/strong>
\nAs an incomer to this rich, diverse and vibrant nation; my adopted homeland has welcomed me warmly and given me a tremendously varied and colourful human experience. As a bit of a weirdo at school, I felt truly at home for the first time in my life as a teenager attending F\u00e8is Rois. Hearing and seeing Martyn Bennet, Shooglenifty and the Peatbog Faeries as an \u2018I\u2019ve got a few beers and some mates with a camper van\u2019 highly excited teenager was nothing short of an epiphany! And I think I\u2019ve probably covered \u2018Why are you involved in Scottish music?\u2019 in my excessively verbose ramblings above\u2026<\/p>\n

Any particular career highlights?<\/strong>
\nTeaching Groupwork to 90 pupils at \u2018F\u00e8is Rois nan Deugairean\u2019 with my own childhood group work tutor Terry Small<\/p>\n

Accompanying Martin Hayes as a duo in Turin Folk Club (Denis Cahill is my all time favourite accompanist)<\/p>\n

Musical Director for \u2018Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin’s Bhangra collaboration\u2019 with Raj and Pops (Tigerstyle), Mhairi Britton, Lord Munmeet Singh and Charlotte Hathaway<\/p>\n

Headlining Cambridge Folk Festival with \u2018Treacherous Orchestra\u2019<\/p>\n

Working with The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton and the four National schools of musical excellence on orchestral score and performance of \u2018Contours of Cairngorm\u2019 with Patsy Reid, Mhairi Hall and Fraser Stone<\/p>\n

Winning a \u2018Danny Kyle\u2019 award and playing at Simon Thoumire and Clare Mclaughlin\u2019s wedding with \u2018Fire in the Bog\u2019 (John Somerville, Adam Sutherland and I)<\/p>\n

Accompanying Cathie Ann Macphee at \u2018A Night For Gordon – A Tribute to the legacy of Gordon Duncan\u2019<\/p>\n

Peforming at \u2018The National Folk Festival\u2019 in Australia with Nuala Kennedy, Donald Hay, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Hass<\/p>\n

Touring \u2018Bridging the Gap\u2019 – Patsy Reid\u2019s \u2018New Voices\u2019 commission with a 15 piece band<\/p>\n

Playing in the House band for the \u2018BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year\u2019 for 11 consecutive years with Mhairi Hall and Paul Jennings<\/p>\n

Recording the album \u2018Cairngorm\u2019 at \u2018Crear\u2019 with Mhairi Hall, Fraser Stone, Donal Lunny and Will Lamb<\/p>\n

What are your plans for the future?<\/strong>
\nAll my regular teaching jobs are still being conducted by \u2018Zoom\u2019, and as such I am very much looking forward to getting back face to face with all my regular pupils.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m always happy to take on more pupils if time allows and can be contacted through my website \u2018michaelbryan.biz<\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

Teaching wise, I would like to do some more mixed genre large group stuff. I\u2019m also keen to engage with refugees and asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

Playing wise – I just want to do more! I don\u2019t have a lot going on just now in that area of my professional life and am very much open to offers.<\/p>\n

Plans are in the pipeline to record a duo album with renowned Shetland fiddler Andrew Gifford.<\/p>\n

Also – having been an accompanist for many fabulous musicians over the years, it\u2019s high time I did some of my own stuff. See \u2018michaelbryan.biz<\/a>‘ for developments\u2026.watch this space!<\/p>\n

Read more about MICHAEL BRYAN<\/a><\/p>\n

MICHAEL BRYAN Social Media
\nhttps:\/\/michaelbryan.biz\/<\/a>
\nFacebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/michaelbryan.biz<\/a>
\nTwitter: http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/@DrChords<\/a>
\nInstagram: http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/michael_strathkanaird<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCnazMAFAsjPSGe_KvOpRexQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately due to Covid there are no tickets for sale to the 2021 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. You will be able to watch it live in the UK at 7pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and here<\/a>. Bands performing on Saturday 4th December include D\u00e0imh, \u00ccmar, Hannah Rarity, Strathspey Day Band and more to be announced.<\/p>\n

If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians please consider supporting our Patreon<\/a> campaign. We have 3 tiers starting at $1 a month and everything helps support us in our work. Read more at www.patreon.com\/handsupfortrad<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Congratulations to MICHAEL BRYAN who have been nominated in Music Tutor of the Year Award sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021. Vote here! Vote now! We asked MICHAEL BRYAN the following questions. Tell us about yourself I am extremely humbled by this nomination, and very […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nominee-2021","8":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/files\/2021\/11\/Mike-Tigerstyle-Yes-Close-Up-compressed-under-2mb-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4853"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4864,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4853\/revisions\/4864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projects.handsupfortrad.scot\/scotstradmusicawards\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}