RCS traditional musicians honoured in 20th anniversary of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards

Published: 05/12/2022

It was a night of celebration for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Traditional Music community who were honoured at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

Students, staff and alumni were nominated across the categories at the annual awards, which took place at Dundee’s Caird Hall on Sunday 4 December and were broadcast live on BBC ALBA.

Third-year student Ruairidh Gray won Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by The Highland Society of London while alumna Megan Henderson won Musician of the Year, sponsored by the University of the Highlands and Islands.

© Alan Richardson

© Alan Richardson

Megan is also part of Breabach, which won Scottish Folk Band of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound. Scottish-Electronic duo Valtos won the Up and Coming Artist of the Year award, sponsored by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

© Alan Richardson

Professor Joshua Dickson, Head of Traditional Music at RCS (pictured above, second right), said: “The Scots Trad Awards is a unique celebration of old and new, and how they relate to each other in the modern musical and cultural landscape. No where in the world do the musical traditions of the past and the innovations of the present meet so vibrantly as in Scotland. We are very proud of Ruairidh, Eryn, Megan and so many other students and alumni who continue to bring such joy to the world around them.”

Live performances on the night included fourth-year student and fiddler Eryn Rae (main image)– who won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician earlier this year, who performed live with her trio.

The Scots Trad Awards, or Na Trads, champion top Scottish traditional musicians of all genres and are organised by Hands Up for Trad, which was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of Scottish traditional arts, language, culture and music through information, advocacy and education to artists, participants and audiences.

Look out for the extended highlights programme on Wednesday 28 December on BBC ALBA at 9pm.

Interested in studying on the four-year BMus Traditional Music degree at RCS? This is the UK’s only Bachelor of Music degree dedicated to traditional and folk music. Visit the website for programme structure, how to apply, fees and scholarship, students and staff and graduate destinations.

MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards winners 2022

Club of The Year, sponsored by the Fraser Shaw Trust: Aberdeen Folk Club

Event of the Year, sponsored by VisitScotland: Hebcelt Festival (Lewis)

Venue of the Year, sponsored by Musicians’ Union: Knoydart Community Hall

Live Act of the Year, sponsored by Greentrax Recordings: Skerryvore

Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative: Charlie Mckerron

Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by The Highland Society of London: Ruairidh Gray

Album of The Year, sponsored by Birnam CD: For the Night by Elephant Sessions

Scottish Folk Band of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound: Breabach

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year, sponsored by the National Piping Centre: Inveraray and District Pipe Band

Up & Coming Artist of the Year, sponsored by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: Valtos

Community Music Project of the Year, sponsored by Innes & Campbell Communications

Isle of Arran Music School

Scottish Dance Band of the Year, sponsored by the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs: Alan Crookston Band

Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (TMSA): Beth Malcolm

Trad Video of the Year: She Moves Me by Kim Carnie

Composer of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music: Rachel Newton, Lauren MacColl (Heal & Harrow)

Original Work of the Year, sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust: Talamh Beò – Living Land, commissioned by Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme

Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Skipinnish: Heading West: a story about a band called Shooglenifty

Musician of the Year, sponsored by the University of the Highlands and Islands: Megan Henderson

The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Awards, sponsored by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS): Caroline Maclennan from HebCelt Festival

The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language, sponsored by Creative Scotland: Anne Donovan

Services to Gaelic, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig: Dr Anne Lorne Gillies

The Hands Up for Trad Scottish Traditional Music Production Awards

Studio Engineer of the Year: Keith Morrison (Wee Studio)

Lighting Designer of the Year: Greig Shankland

Recording Studio of the Year: GloWorm Recording (Glasgow)

Music Producer of the Year: Anna Massie

Live Sound Engineer of the Year: Scott Turnbull