BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Robyn Stapleton was last week named Dumfries & Galloway Life’s Person of the Year. Robyn faced competition from award-winning entrepreneurs, sportspersons and outstanding community champions to become the overall winner of the region’s Person of the Year Award.
As former Border TV presenter, Gilly Fraser, announced the winner, she quoted one of the judges, saying:
‘Robyn is talented, successful, and someone the region can be truly proud of. She is always proud and happy to fly the flag for Dumfries and Galloway — a great ambassador for the region.’
The judging panel, chaired by Dame Barbara Kelly, gave points to each of the nominees. Of Robyn, they said: ‘We awarded maximum points, and that doesn’t happen often!’
Since winning the title of BBC Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician in February, Robyn has gone from strength to strength. This summer, she shared the stage with Katherine Jenkins, performing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Last Night of the Proms. Her performance, at Glasgow Green, was included in the UK-wide highlights programme for Last Night of the Proms.
But it wasn’t just her recent success as a performer that helped win Robyn the title of Dumfries and Galloway’s Person of the Year. Robyn is committed to her work as a community leader and particularly in her local area where she continues to teach, perform and lead singing groups and workshops. This year, with support from the Holywood Trust, Robyn launched SongRoots, a singing project that aims to preserve local songs and encourage singing in the community. Robyn was this year made an ‘Ambassador of the Scots Language’ as part of an initiative by Education Scotland and, at the age of 25, is the youngest ambassador.
Robyn has achieved a lot in this past year, but from this recent award as Person of the Year, it is clear that people have high hopes for the future of this young woman.
One person who nominated her said:
‘Robyn has the voice of
an angel. She will, through her traditional songs and music, promote Dumfries and Galloway throughout the world.’
Robyn is a nominee for Scots Singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, which will be held on the 13th of December and will be appearing on a Christmas special programme for BBC Radio 4 alongside Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent.
Her debut album, ‘Fickle Fortune’ will be released next spring.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- The awards ceremony was held on the afternoon of the 28th of November at Dumfries’ Easterbrook Hall
Robyn Stapleton grew up in Stranraer - In February this year, Robyn won BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, triumphing in the televised final held in Glasgow’s City Halls.
- She studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she received a 1st Class Honours Degree in Scottish Music & spent a year at the University of Limerick, Ireland where she studied Irish music
- Robyn launched her project SongRoots in Stranraer at the beginning of the year and since has been collecting songs from the older generations in her area and sharing the songs with the rest of the community through teaching, performance and workshops.
- She was involved in the Big Song Relay, recording the song ‘Here’s To All our Common Wealth’, which was specially commissioned for the Commonwealth Games celebrations. Robyn taught and performed the song across the country as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay
- Robyn’s debut album, ‘Fickle Fortune’ will be released in Spring 2015
Contact
Name: Robyn Stapleton
Tel: 07714268396
Email: stapletonrobyn@gmail.com
Robyn’s Website: www.robynstapleton.com
D&G Life Awards Website: http://www.dglifepeopleawards.co.uk/index.php/enter