David Shedden from Glasgow is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018. We asked David the following questions:
How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I started playing pipes when I was around 9 years old. My dad is a great piper so it was just a matter of time before he roped my into it as well! I started to get lessons at the National Piping Centre and, when my brother showed an interest in learning drums we both joined a local pipe band.
Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I think it was Finlay MacDonald at the National Piping Centre that pressured me into applying for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician. He’s been a great mentor over the last few years and I still go in and see him for advice even though I’ve left uni.
What do you hope to gain from the experience?
I set myself a goal of reaching the final, so I’m already delighted with that. I think that I have already gained confidence in my own playing through the experience. The standard is so high and to think that a panel of judges have thought you merited a place in the final is massive validation and lets you know that you are on the right path.
Do you have any particular musical highlights?
One thing that I’ll always have great memories of are the lessons I had with the great, late, Donald MacPherson. It was a real honour to play tunes for him and hear his thoughts on the instrument.
Also, I have been quite lucky so far in that I have been able to travel quite a bit with music. It’s always great to see new places and even better when you are taken places you would never think about going unless music had opened the doors.
What are your plans for the future?
I am all set to release an album this year with a brand new band called Assynt alongside former young trad finalist Graham MacKenzie, and BBC Radio 2 young folk award winner Innes White. I am really looking forward to get that music out there and letting people hear it.
Why not buy a ticket to hear David Shedden or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday January 28th at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival. If you can’t make it along the event will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland between 5 & 8pm and on the iPlayer afterwards.