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Calum McIlroy: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Calum McIlroy from Aberdeenshire is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.

We asked Calum the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I first got involved in traditional music through the cèilidh band at high school, thinking it would just be bit of fun and not at all expecting to gain so much from it! After leaving school I got more experience playing folk music through local groups like the North East Folk Collective and the Cèol Mòr Big Band at Aberdeen International Youth Festival. I was also part of two fantastic tours with the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I’ve been inspired by many of the previous winners of the competition like Anna Massie, Gillian Frame and Ewan Robertson, who have all gone on to have flourishing careers in traditional music. I was also really excited by the prospect of working with Mhairi Hall and Mike Bryan, and performing at a high profile event like Celtic Connections.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
I have reached a stage where I am involved in a couple of different musical projects and I feel I would benefit with a bit of help getting them out there. This competition has a great reputation and I thought it would be an excellent way of gaining some more exposure.

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
Reaching the final of this competition is definitely my biggest musical achievement so far, but other highlights include playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the North East Folk Collective, and being part of “Brave in Concert” at Celtic Connections 2019 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lorne MacDougall, Chris Stout, Fraser Fifield and many others.

What are your plans for the future?
I’ll be recording an EP with the help of Megan MacDonald and Ruairidh Gollan in early February, and then will be looking forward to my final recital and completing my BMus in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I have also been working on some new material with Anna Garvin, who is a great pianist from Oban.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Calum McIlroy or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

Mhairi Catherine Mackinnon: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Mhairi Catherine Mackinnon from Perth is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.

We asked Mhairi the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I started learning trad music from an early age – it was all around me growing up with my parents listening to lots of Scottish music & my grandad playing the accordion… I had an interest in it and my granny bought me the My First Ceilidh Collection Tune book for my 10th birthday… the year after, I began playing with the Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reel Society!!

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I entered this competition to push myself – to play and learn new music, as well as to encourage myself to perform on a solo platform which I find quite nerve wracking!! Stepping out with my comfort zone and pushing myself to try new things and present myself at a professional level is so important to me right now in my career as not only a musician, but as a teacher too… I need to continue to push myself and develop my own playing in order to inspire and teach the next generation!

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
I hope to gain a little bit more exposure within the music scene – I hope people will hear my playing and want to collaborate with me, on whatever level that may be – session musician recording work, strings ensemble work, teaching & general music performance!!

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
I have so many that I’m incredibly grateful for!! Playing at the Scots Music Trad Awards with the Scott Wood Band, Playing at the London Olympics with Cherrygrove, playing at Festival de Ortiguiera and the BBC 1 Hogmanay Show with the Scott Wood Band, playing as a soloist on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor with Robbie Shepherd, as well as all the amazing festivals I’ve been fortunate to perform at!!

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to keep pushing myself musically, to be creative, to get involved, to collaborate, to perform, to continue my teaching and develop my techniques as well as continuing to compose my own music with the hopes to one day creating my very own debut album!!

Why not buy a ticket to hear Mhairi Catherine Mackinnon or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

Josie Duncan: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Josie Duncan from Lewis is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.

We asked Josie the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
Growing up in an island community meant that I was immersed in Scottish traditional music from a young age. Gaelic music had a particularly profound impact on me growing up, and this meant that when the time came to go to university, I sought an education that would allow me to further deepen my understanding of the form and take lessons from some very inspiring traditional singers.

Throughout my studies at the Conservatoire and ever since then, I have had incredible opportunities and have been lucky to share the stage with people I have long idolised, and peers who I have come to deeply respect.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
The competition presents a brilliant opportunity to focus closely on a small collection of songs, which allows you to really focus on your chosen pieces. It also offers the chance to make music with the highly sympathetic house band, which is a real treat.

I have grown up watching the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award and it’s an honour to have a chance to be a part of it in 2020, and to bring Gàidhlig songs to this years competition.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
The competition places you alongside musicians you may not otherwise have found yourself working with, I am so looking forward to working with these musicians at the competition itself and beyond.

I feel extremely lucky to be given the chance to appear on one of the most coveted stages at the festival, and it’s a real honour to perform alongside the other finalists. Throughout my career I have been taught by some extremely inspiring performers, and I look forward to distilling as much of that as possible into one performance.

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
Having the chance to travel through music is always a joy. I’ve had the opportunity to sing in Australia and around Europe, which has been incredible. I hope to travel more often and even further afield in years to come. As well as this, Celtic Connections and Hebridean Celtic Festival are always highlights for me closer to home.

What are your plans for the future?
I would love to one day make my own album and to have the opportunity to share Gaelic songs further afield. I hope to encourage others to sing and to always find enjoyment from music and song, the way I do now.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Josie Duncan or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

Cameron Nixon: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Cameron Nixon from Peterculter, Aberdeen is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.

We asked Cameron the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I have always been heavily influenced by different genres of music. Originally learning the violin in primary school, I continued to receive lessons throughout secondary school from Susan Simpson. As I progressed, I joined the school ceilidh band and found that I was more interested in learning about Scottish Traditional music. This was my first introduction into Scottish music. As my dad was an active member of the Garioch Fiddlers in Inverurie, I too began attending, starting in the Junior Section and playing in Fiddlers Rallies. I won the local Garioch Fiddlers competition and I regularly entered the North East of Scotland Music Festival in the Scottish Fiddle Section. I later joined the North East Folk Collective which was founded by Sharon Hassan. This group provided a platform for engaging with other musicians in the North East. We arranged and promoted local music throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. As I enjoyed learning, playing and singing Scottish Music, I made the decision to complete my final year of schooling at Sgoil Chiuil Na Gaidhealtachd (Plockton Music School). I thoroughly embraced the opportunity to develop my own playing and singing at Plockton as I learnt a great deal about Scottish Traditional Music under the tutelage of Dougie Pincock (Head of School). I sang under the tuition of Wendy Weatherby and received fiddle lessons from Gordon Gunn. We performed in many concerts, went on tour around the Western Isles and released a CD during my year at Plockton. Consequently, this was the turning point for me and lead me to want to pursue a career in traditional music. I was accepted to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow. I am now in my final year studying Scots Song on the BMus Traditional Music course under the tuition of Fiona Hunter.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
Since the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award was established in 2001 it has long been a prolific award and a goal for many young traditional musicians. In some respects, it has been a great platform for new musicians who are at the beginning of launching their career. The award enables young traditional musicians to achieve recognition in their chosen field of music and to develop as musicians. It also provides the opportunity to collaborate with other great musicians. As the award is now in its twentieth year, which also coincides with me being in my final year at RCS, I felt that it was a great opportunity for me to progress in my career and to set myself a challenge.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
Prior to reaching the final of the competition, I had a fantastic weekend in Biggar for the semi-finals where I gained a considerable amount from that experience. It was a tremendous privilege to perform with Mhairi Hall and Mike Bryan and it was an incredible experience to hear all the other talented musicians performing. Overall, I hope to gain an insight into working efficiently with accompanists, working well as a team, learning through rehearsals and arranging songs for the final.

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
I have many musical highlights with both Scottish Music and also with Classical Music. At age fourteen, I was given the opportunity to tour with Scottish Opera in “The Magic Flute” as one of the three Spirits – we toured in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Belfast. As a member of the North East Folk Collective in Aberdeen, we performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of Music for Youth. I have also had the opportunity to perform with the National Youth Choir of Scotland in numerous places including, Chicago, The Royal Albert Hall with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, La Côte-Saint-André, in Yellowstone and in Carnegie Hall, New York. In my sixth year of school at Plockton we toured the Western Isles playing in many venues. In 2019 I recorded on Malinky’s most recent album “Handsel” and performed it with the band in the Glasgow City Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections. In October 2019 I went to Cape Breton with other RCS students and Jenn Butterworth where we performed as Ùr in the Celtic Colours International Festival. It was a special festival and there were many highlights and memories made during our time there. We met many inspirational musicians, the hospitality extended to us was exceptional, and it was the warmth and appreciation from the audiences that made our performances special.

What are your plans for the future?
My ultimate aim is to pursue a career as a Scots Traditional Singer and perform as widely as possible around the UK and beyond. I also plan to give private music tuition in both fiddle and voice as I feel that I would like to get others involved in learning Scottish music. As I have performed with a few bands, my other aim is to establish my own band as another means of performing with others. I already play with a couple of duo’s and I would like to continue to perform with them. In addition, I want to compose more of my own pieces and this is something which I am very keen to develop over the next few years, and ultimately, produce a CD.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Cameron Nixon or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

Alexander (Ali) Levack: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Alexander (Ali) Levack from Maryburgh is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland

We asked Alexander (Ali) the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I first began piping lessons at the age of 9 when I was encouraged to do so by my Grandfather. He too played Pipes & Fiddle so was very much a musical mentor for me growing up.
Between the age of 9 and 15 I was solely a piper and as well as receiving tuition and mentoring from my Grandfather, I also received tutelage from the likes of Benny Manson, Paul Harrison, Trevor Dear, John D. Burgess, Norman Gillies and Iain Macfadyen.
Right up until the age of around 20, I regularly competed in solo piping competitions across the country and was lucky enough to have had a lot of success during this time.

At the age of 15 I moved away from home to Plockton, where I attended the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music for 4 years.
Attending Plockton Music School had a profound affect on me as a musician and is what I believe helped me most in becoming a full time professional musician.
Here I recieved weekly one-to-one piping tuition from Iain Macfadyen as well as learning to play whistle with weekly one-to-one tuition from Hamish Napier.
Also learning to play in an ensemble and not just as a solo piper was largely due to my time spent at the NCETM.

After Plockton I moved to Glasgow where I was accepted to study Piping at the RCS, continuing on with weekly piping and whistle tuition at the feet of great tutors.
After a couple of years of studying at the RCS and building a career as a musician, I took the chance and began performing full time as a professional musician.

6 years on and I’m lucky enough to still be living as a full time musician in Glasgow, performing, recording and collaborating in what is a great and vibrant scene filled with an abundance of talented musicians.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I competed in this same award in 2018 and reached the Final.
Looking back on the 2018 Final i.e. how I performed, prepared, handled myself etc. I felt that there was a lot that I would do differently if I ever entered again.
After a lot of persuasion from friends and family to enter for this years competition, I gave in and decided to apply my experience and self critique from the 2018 Final into this year.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
With my band ‘Project Smok’ having just released a brand new debut Album and plans for myself to launch a solo career at some point this year, I feel that the coverage and following which the competition and winning it can bring couldn’t come at a better time. It would be a tremendous boost in momentum for both myself and ‘Project Smok’ with everything that we have coming already.
As much of an opportunity as the competition provides, I also feel that I would do my upmost to shed light on the award and what good it can bring to those who compete. Be that introducing it to an audience who might not otherwise be involved and/or encourage more people to enter and compete, who might not feel they could.

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
*Headlining ‘Festival de Ortigueira’ 2019 in Galicia with ‘Project SMOK’, to an audience of around 30,000 people.

*Performing as part of the Commonwealth Closing Ceremony 2014 at Hampden Park, playing alongside Dougie Maclean, Donald Shaw, Patsy Reid, Kylie Minogue and Lulu.

*Releasing ‘Horizons’ (‘Project SMOK’s debut record) at Celtic Connections 2018.

*Touring and performing with artists/bands such as: Mischa Macpherson, The Tweed Project, Anxo Lorenzo, Levack/Stewart/Irving, Martin O’Neill, Donald Shaw and many others.

*Recording the new ‘Project SMOK’ album, ‘Bayview’. This was recorded at Edwyn Collins personal Recording Studio in Helmsdale, using all vintage analogue gear as used and recorded with by Edwyn himself throughout his time with ‘Orange Juice’ and solo career.

What are your plans for the future?
With the release of ‘Bayview’ (‘Project SMOK’ Debut Album) and the launch of a solo project of my own later this year, there is already a lot of momentum building for both myself and the band. Between Tours, Festivals, Collaborations and more recording, there is a lot forthcoming.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Alexander (Ali) Levack or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

Padruig Morrison: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020

Padruig Morrison from Uist is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2020. The finals will be held at Celtic Connections Festival on 2nd February 2020 at 5pm. Buy a ticket here or listen live on BBC Radio Scotland or watch on BBC ALBA.

We asked Padruig the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
Growing up in Uist I was surrounded by the Gaelic culture from birth, added to which, my father used to sing at traditional ceilidhs regularly, and so there was no way I was going to escape it! I took up the box through the fèis evening classes when I was eight, around the same time I also took classical piano lessons, and carried on with both all through school. I continued going to the fèisean in Uist and to others around Scotland, all of which nurtured my interest in Scottish music, and in push its boundaries.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I entered because of the experience and exposure associated with the award, but also to use it as an opportunity to push me towards innovating and stretching the boundaries of the genre more.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
The experience of performing from such a huge platform will be great in so many ways. It will be a very valuable experience working with the house band, but likewise, I’ll gain experience in working with them on some hopefully more innovative sets and in quite a short space of time!

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
Recent music highlights have included my New Voices commission from Celtic Connections and performing 50 minutes of new music with a group of amazing musicians. I’ve also really enjoyed working with ensembles such as the Hebrides Ensemble, the Hard Rain Ensemble, and with some of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as touring the west coast a lot with Beinn Lee.

What are your plans for the future?
I hope to do more solo work in future, and with a strong compositional focus. I will hopefully recording an album in the next year made entirely of original music. As well as that, this year will see Beinn Lee’s second album released, and hopefully in the next couple of years some more music will be released from Causeway Trio.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Padruig Morrison or any other of the finalists at the Grand Finals on Sunday 2nd February at 5pm. The finals are part of Celtic Connections festival.

And the winner is…

Singer Hannah Rarity was named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018 last night (Sunday January 28) after a rousing winning performance at Glasgow’s City Halls.

Judges were unanimous in awarding the 25-year-old the title, now seen as the premier accolade for young musicians in their field.

Each of the five finalists gave a stirring performance, broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland as part of Celtic Connections.

Watch the performances:

But Hannah, of Dechmont, West Lothian, had the edge during an evening of superb entertainment.

Jeff Zycinski, Head of Radio at BBC Scotland, said: “Every year we are amazed at the consistently high standard of young musicians who reach the finals. Hannah’s performance particularly impressed the judges – she captivated the audience from the moment she stepped on stage at the City Halls.

“It was an extremely difficult choice, though. Each one of our finalists was magnificent, giving some especially spirited performances and showing exactly the kind of individuality and flair we set out to find when we launched the search for this year’s winner.

“Hannah will be an inspiration to her peers and hopefully encourage more young artists to embrace the vibrant traditional music scene we’re lucky to have here in Scotland.”

Hannah joined the National Youth Choir of Scotland aged eight and honed her trad music style until beginning the Scottish Music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2012. Since graduating, she has toured internationally with Irish-American traditional group Cherish The Ladies, appeared as a soloist on BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay Live 2014 and 2016 and performed a debut sell-out show at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. She released her debut EP Beginnings in November 2016, with a debut album to follow later this year.

She said: “I’m utterly stunned to have won – especially with such a strong field of finalists. Everyone performed amazingly well. It’s a true honour to be named as winner – the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician is a hugely respected competition. I’m looking forward to taking on some new projects in 2018 and I hope earning this coveted title will help act as a spring in my career.”

Hannah wins a recording session with BBC Scotland and one-year membership to the Musicians Union. All finalists get a one-year membership to the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) plus the opportunity to take part in the TMSA’s annual Young Trad Tour.

Previous winners of the award who have gone on to make a big name for themselves on the trad scene include last year’s winner, fiddle player Charlie Stewart, and 2016 title holder, concertina virtuoso Mohsen Amini. Other big names who used the competition as a major springboard in their careers include singer Robyn Stapleton who won in 2014 and talented 2004 winner, multi-instrumentalist Anna Massie.

Organised by BBC Radio Scotland, the Young Traditional Musician of The Year competition has been running since 2001, increasing the profile of Scottish traditional music and recognising rising talent in the genre.

Footage and live performances from the finals, including the winning performance, can be seen at bbc.co.uk/youngtrad

The other 2018 finalists were:

Rory Matheson, 19, Drumbeg, Sutherland – Piano

Heavily influenced by pipe music and Gaelic song, Rory’s love of trad music was cemented playing at ceilidhs all over Scotland on both piano and accordion. Now studying Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he is taught by James Ross and Mary McCarthy, two of the top pianists on the traditional music scene. He enjoys bringing elements of jazz and blues to his music. His playing experience includes being part of the Fort George Military Tattoo in 2015 and also playing with 20-piece regional ensemble ‘Snas as well as energetic modern trad outfit Trip.

Amy Papiransky, 24, Keith, Moray – Voice

Amy, who also plays piano and violin, began singing lessons at 11 and never looked back. As a teenager, she toured America, Canada and Germany with the Strathspey Fiddlers and went on to gain her BMusEd Music Teaching Degree from the University of Aberdeen.

She now works part-time as a high school music teacher in North Lanarkshire while studying for a Masters in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Performance highlights for Amy include BBC Radio Scotland’s Take The Floor and BBC Proms in the Park. She plans to record an album next year.

Alexander Levack, 24, Maryburgh, Ross-shire – Whistles/pipes

Ali became hooked on the pipes when a family friend began teaching him at the age of nine. At 14, he began his studies at the National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Music and spent the next four years working with some of the country’s best tutors while also gaining accolades in various competitions. In 2012, he began studying Piping at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and became heavily involved in the Feis movement. Ali currently lives in Glasgow and has enjoyed working with artists including Dougie Maclean, Mischa Macpherson, Edwyn Collins and previous Young Trad winner Charlie Stewart.

David Shedden, 26, Glasgow – Bagpipes

David began playing pipes at the age of nine, went on to graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a first-class honours degree in Scottish Music in 2015 and now makes a living playing and teaching traditional music. He was taught by the late Donald MacPherson, whom many regard as the best piper of the 20thCentury, and counts him as one of his biggest influences. David has played at the highest level of competitive piping and has played in many top pipe bands over the years, including the Scottish Power pipe band, with whom he performed at one of the Celtic Connections opening concerts at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. This year David performed with his band ‘Farrland’ at Celtic Connections, and is looking forward to releasing an album in early 2018 with new band Assynt.

Laura Davidson – laura.davidson@bbc.co.uk, tel: 07770368553

Pictures: Alan Peebles, alanpeebles@me.com, tel: 07973 706009

Alexander Levack: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018

Alexander Levack from Maryburgh is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018. We asked Alexander the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I first began chanter lessons at the age of nine, with encouragement from my Grandfather to do so.

List of piping tutors I’ve had:
Benny Manson,
John Burgess,
Norman Gillies,
Rona Lightfoot,
Iain Macfadyen,
Stuart Samson

I’ve been involved with the Feis Rois since the age of nine.

Attended Plockton music School from 2007-2011

Attended RCS from 2012-2014

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
In short, to gain recognition for my craft.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
A following for my music releases and future projects.

A recognition for my craft

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
Performing at Viljandi Folk Festival in Estonia, as part of Levack/Stewart/Irving. Great few gigs there and an awesome festival.

Performing as part of Dougie Maclean’s band in the final act of the 2014 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony at Hamden Park, Glasgow. We were joined on stage with Kylie Minogue and Lulu for the final song.

The Release of ‘Project Smok’ debut album ‘Horizons’, 2017. ‘Project Smok’ is a duo with myself and guitarist, Pablo Lafuente.

Recording whistle on a coupe of tracks for Anxo Lorenzo’s upcoming album, due for release in May/June this year.

Performing and travelling in many different countries with ‘Whisky Kiss’ Ceilidh Band. Singapore, New York, Shanghai, UAE to name but a few of the countries we have played at.

Living and performing for 6 months in Orlando, Florida as part of a trio in Disney World.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue living in Glasgow, to continue performing, collaborating and writing new music. There are many great musicians I know (and many I don’t know) across many different genres of music who live in Glasgow. It’s a great city to be in for musical diversity and standard.
To collaborate, write, perform and/or record with other musicians abroad is also what excites me.
A solo album of my own is my main priority for this year also.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Alexander Levack 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.

Luc McNally: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018

Luc McNally from Dipton, County Durham is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2015. We asked Luc the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I got involved in Scottish music when my mam convinced me to audition for Kathryn Tickell’s Folkestra at the Sage Gateshead when I was 14. The repertoire we were taught was an interesting mixture of traditional and contemporary arrangements of Northumbrian, Scottish and Irish music. Prior to that I had no concept of folk or traditional music that I can remember apart from the Pogues and a couple of Planxty/Bothy Band albums I’d heard around the house. Once I got into it, though, I was hooked. I would go to as many festivals, gigs and sessions as possible, which is what eventually made me want to move to Glasgow: the place with the highest concentration of amazing musicians and bands, and sessions every night.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
I entered the competition because I had seen quite a few friends go through the process, and saw how motivating it can be to try and prepare material that shows off your best playing in a short space of time, on a scarily big stage. I mainly see it as a challenge to myself, to try and push me into exploring my solo playing.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
I mostly work as an accompanist, so it’s not often that I happen to be at the centre of a performance. But with this competition, that’s completely unavoidable; so for the most part, I hope to gain confidence in my solo playing and singing as well as just enjoying the chance to be accompanied by some of my favourite musicians. I’m also getting the rare chance to share a serious concert bill with some of the best players from my age group, rather than just seeing them in the pub!

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
Last Summer, Dosca had the pleasure of sharing the bill with the Treacherous Orchestra at the Montelago Celtic Festival in Italy – it was both an amazing gig and a hilarious party/holiday and a complete honour to be in the company of so many great players.
I also had a lovely gig with Snuffbox at the Scots Fiddle Festival in Edinburgh, playing before Graham MacKenzie’s big band. The gig was in the Queen’s Hall and really well attended, and we even got mentioned in a Times article!
Another overawing experience recently was competing in (and winning!) the Trip to Birmingham TradFest’s Molloy Award with Iona Fyfe and Charlie Grey. As well as it being one of the finest festivals I’ve been to, with endless sessions and such a high volume of young musicians and music fans, we got to see Flook on the first night, and Frankie Gavin & Noel Hill on the second – all of whom are heroes of mine.

What are your plans for the future?
More gigs, teaching and travelling hopefully. Dosca are releasing their album on the 20th of January so hopefully we’ll get some work out of that, on top of quite a few gigs I have booked in with Snuffbox and Iona Fyfe for this year. I have also been keen to do some solo work for a while now, so maybe this will be the year for that!

Why not buy a ticket to hear Luc McNally 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.

Amy Papiransky: Finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018

Amy Papiransky from Keith is a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2018. We asked Amy the following questions:

How did you get involved in Scottish music?
I would sing at the local TMSA Keith Festival through primary school and loved it. I never did very well as I would be super nervous every time… However, I remember being 7 years old and Margaret Bennett was the judge for my category for scots singing and her lovely / positive feedback struck a bit of confidence in me and so I continued to sing.

After my dad made me a fiddle when I was 13 I was determined to join the local Strathspey Fiddlers as I had watched them play a few times and it looked like so much fun. After taking up fiddle lessons I joined the group 9 months later and it was the best thing I could have done. I then met friends with the same interest, and we played in Canada, Ireland and Germany to name a few. When at University in Aberdeen I also took up an interest in trad piano so I taught myself through listening to bands such as Session A9 and Blazin Fiddles and I travelled through to Glasgow at the time for 2 or 3 lessons with Hamish Napier.

Why did you enter BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award?
When I was in high school one of my close friends from the Strathspey Fiddlers was in the 2009 finals. A group of us travelled down to watch him and I just remember thinking to myself “WOW, I want to do that!!” Being in the young trad has been a massive goal of mine since I was a young teenager. Never did I ever think I would make a final. I have wanted to be in the competition so much because I would like to share my songs that I write on a big platform.

What do you hope to gain from the experience?
Firstly, I have already gained very good friends through the semi’s so this is great!! I am really looking forward to gaining the experience of touring and recording with these amazing musicians. I have gained knowledge on PRS and really good contacts.

Do you have any particular musical highlights?
When I sang at the 2009 BBC Proms in the park. This was an absolutely amazing experience, singing with the Scottish BBC Symphony orchestra playing behind me was crazy.

Also, I travelled to Malawi last June and spent two weeks playing my fiddle in some of the most dangerous maximum security prisons in the world. This was probably the hardest/most emotional / sad / amazing musical experience I have ever had.

What are your plans for the future?
I am recording my first EP next week which should be released in February / March. I will hopefully graduate in my masters from the RCS this year then the plan is to fund for and record my first album of my own songs later this year into next.

Why not buy a ticket to hear Amy Papiransky 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.

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Visit the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Web page.

Buy tickets for Young Trad Finals

Buy tickets for Young Trad Finals

Click on Celtic Connections logo for tickets.

About the Young Trad Award #youngtrad

The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award exists to encourage young musicians to keep their tradition alive and to maximise their musical potential by the pursuit of a career in traditional music. Read more >>>

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