BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2011 Semi-finalists announced.

The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award is 11 years old this year and again we have a great lineup of young musicians for the semi-finals. From pipes and song to fiddle, accordion and harp we’ve got an excellent night of music ahead on Saturday 9th October in South Lanarkshire. Also this year we have a 2/3 ratio of women to men musicians which is the first time this has happened.

The musicians are:
Mairi Chaimbeul - Gaelic song, clarsach (Kyle of Lochalsh)
Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul - Gaelic song, clarsach (Kyle of Lochalsh)
Katie Foster - fiddle (Edinburgh)
Paul Garner - whistles (Coventry)
Kristan Harvey - fiddle (Orkney)
Lorne MacDougall - bagpipes, whistle (Carradale, Argyll)
Hannah McNeill – fiddle, song (Glasgow)
Liondsaidh Mitchell - Gaelic song (Isle of Lewis)
Alistair Ogilvy - Scots song (Strathblane)
Tina Rees - piano (Glasgow)
Eilidh Steel - fiddle (Helensburgh)
Andrew Waite - accordion (Duns)

The semi-finalist concert on Saturday 9th October is in Coulter Hall, Coulter starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 and £6 conc. The concert is a culmination of a weekend of workshops where the young musicians learn about the music business from guest speakers.

Simon Thoumire, the event organiser said:
“I love this time of year when we get to meet 12 new fabulous musicians. It really is heartening to see how well traditional music is evolving through our young people.”

From this concert 6 musicians will win through to the final on 29th January, 2011 at Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow. This is an excellent opportunity for the young musicians to hear bands, meet influential people, play an amazing concert at the City Halls, Glasgow which is broadcast to a wide audience live on BBC Radio Scotland.

This 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. The winner will be provided with high profile performance opportunities and the necessary tools and advice they require to launch a career in traditional music.

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Note to the Editor
Contact Simon Thoumire Hands Up for Trad on 07775 854572, info@handsupfortrad.co.uk, www.handsupfortrad.co.uk
Previous BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award winners:
Gillian Frame, Emily Smith, Anna Massie, James Graham, Stuart Cassells, Shona Mooney, Catriona Watt, Ewan Robertson, Ruaridh Macmillan, Daniel Thorpe

Semi-finalist details.

Mairi Chaimbeul - Clarsach, Gaelic song (Kyle of Lochalsh)
Mairi from Skye has been performing and competing from a young age. She has won many Mod Gold medals winning her first at 8 and her last in 2008. She is currently at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh where she studies with Catriona McKay. In 2010 Mairi and her sister Steaphanaidh made it through to the finals of the Radio 2 Young Folk Award.

Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul - Gaelic song, clarsach (Kyle of Lochalsh)
Steaphanaidh is a native Gaelic speaker from Skye. She has learnt with all the major singers and harp players throughout her young life including Kirsteen Graham and Rona Lightfoot. Steaphanaidh has extensive performance experience and has performed with Catriona McKay, Kathleen Macinnes, Blair Douglas, Shooglenifty and many more. In 2010 Steaphanaidh and her sister Mairi made it through to the finals of the Radio 2 Young Folk Award.

Katie Foster - fiddle (Edinburgh)
Katie studies at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh and is currently in her final year. With various ensembles she has performed all over the world including Poland and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in China. She has won many awards including the Waddell Medal, the Gray Medal and The Winifred Gavine Award for string performance.

Paul Garner - whistles (Coventry)
Paul started playing whistle at the age of 10 and was inspired by the playing of Frankie Kennedy, Altan and Oige. With his band the Gallovidians he has supported Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham on several occasions. As part of the St Roch's branch of Comhaltas in Glasgow he won several All-Scotland and All-Britian competitions and has represented Scotland at all levels in the All-Ireland. His band Choonz released their CD 'Lads of Lash' and have played lots of gigs around the UK and mainland Europe.

Kristan Harvey - fiddle (Orkney)
Kristan started learning the fiddle at the age of 9 in Orkney's Traditional Music Project. She is currently studying at the RSAMD and working with Pete Clark. Kirstan has been influenced by Gordon Gunn and Douglas Montgomery. She is currently setting up a band in Glasgow and performing with the 'Chairettes'.

Lorne MacDougall - bagpipes, whistle (Carradale, Argyll)
Lorne is a product of the renowned Argyllshire piping scene and is adept on Highland Pipes, Smallpipes, Border Pipes and Whistle. He has made frequent radio appearances including live sessions on Travelling Folk and Pipeline as well as playing on Ross Kennedy's 'Scottish Voice and Acoustic Guitar' CD. His pipe band career has led him to the very top of Grade 1 playing with the cream of Scottish pipe bands, the Scottish Power Pipe Band.

Hannah McNeill - fiddle, song (Glasgow)
Hannah has been learning and performing with St Roch's (branch of Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann) for the last 10 years. She has won many accolades in this time including the under 15 & under 18 singing and fiddle competitions at the All Britain Fleadh. Hannah is currently on her 2nd year of RSAMD Scottish music course.

Liondsaidh Mitchell - Gaelic song (Isle of Lewis)
Liondsaidh was brought up on the Isle of Lewis and has been surrounded by traditional music and Gaelic song all her life. She studied 4 years at Sabhal Mor Ostaig with award winning singer Christine Primrose and in 2009 won the Gold Medal for Seann Nos at the Royal National Mod and in 2010 won the international new song competition with her son Sullean soilleir gorm.

Alistair Ogilvy - Scots song (Strathblane)
Alistair comes from Strathblane and has been singing ever since he can remember.  He loves traditional music and song and has been influenced by his family. He has supported Alan Reid from the Battlefield Band, Christine Boville, performed at Glenfarg Folk Club and also performs with well known singer/guitarist Jim King.

Tina Rees - piano (Glasgow)
Tina has always been surrounded by traditional music. She has played the piano and danced from a young age. She attended Limerick University in 2006 to study the BA degree and transferred to the RSAMD in 2008. It was at the RSAMD that she became engrossed by traditional piano playing. Among her many performances Tina has performed at Celtic Connections and with the Chieftains.

Eilidh Steel - fiddle (Helensburgh)
Eilidh hails from Helensburgh and has been playing fiddle from a very young age. She completed the BA Honours in Scottish music at the RSAMD in 2006 and since then has been performing and touring in a duo with Mark Neale and band Heeliegoleerie. As well as performing Eilidh is also a gifted teacher.

Andrew Waite - accordion (Scottish Borders)
Andrew from the Scottish Borders learnt accordion from Iain Lowthian. He then performed with the Small Hall Band which gave him a platform to perform with other musicians. In 2007 he joing The Sage Gateshead 'Folkestra'. It gave him the opportunity to perform some of his own compositions in their sets. In 2008 performed at the first ever folk day at the proms.

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