PRESS RELEASE

26/01/04 for IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Young Gaelic singer wins prestigious award.

BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award Finals 2004

On Sunday 25th January at Celtic Connections festival, 23 year old James Graham from Lochinver won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2004. He sang 4 songs including one unaccompanied which charmed the judges. When the James finished his 15 minute set the audience raised the roof of the Strathclyde Suite. As part of his prize James will perform at Vancouver, Winnipeg and The Mission folk festivals in Canada, make a CD with Foot Stompin' Records and have a website designed by Tangent Multimedia.

Six musicians (read about the finalists) who competed for the award all played fantastically to make a very special night. They were James Graham - Lochinver (Gaelic song), Shona Donaldson - Huntly (voice, fiddle), Sarah Naylor - Skye (fiddle, voice), Rosie Morton - Edinburgh (clarsach), Tom Orr - Lanark (accordion), and Jenna Reid - Shetland (fiddle, piano, voice). All will go on to have amazing careers in traditional music in the future and we wish them all the best.

The competition was preceded by a reception hosted by Maggie Cunningham, the head of BBC Radio Scotland and invited guests included John McCormick, Controller of BBC 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.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Simon Thoumire @ "Hands Up For Trad"
w: www.handsupfortrad.co.uk. e: info@handsupfortrad.co.uk t: 01899850658 m: 07775854572

Notes to the Editor

For more details check out www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/youngtrad
Sponsors are South Lanarkshire Council, Foot Stompin' Records, Celtic Connections festival, Musicians Union, British Council Scotland, Feisan Nan Gael, Traditional Music and Song Association, Clydesdale Folk Club, Tangent Multimedia.

Past winners: Gillian Frame (Arran), Emily Smith (Thornhill) and Anna Massie (Fortrose).

Check out some photo's of the event courtesy of Tangent Multimedia.

Apply for next years event.