A new song, written by one of Scotland’s leading traditional musicians, will be unveiled at a concert at RCS this week, which will showcase some of the nation’s brightest new voices.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Traditional Music department will stage A Showcase of Gaelic and Scots Song, an hour-long concert on Thursday 22 February in the Ledger Recital Room.

It brings together students from across the four-year degree programme who will join forces with Mary Ann Kennedy – the award-winning musician, singer, broadcaster and RCS alumna – to share collaborative vocal performances, including the ensemble ‘Sang Scuil | Sgoil nan Oran’.

A moving new song, written by Mary Ann, will be featured – Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl (The world will end, but love and music will endure).  The song was commissioned by Professor Richard Rose as a tribute to his English-born, late wife, Rosemary Rose, who had a love of Gaelic music and had sung in a Gaelic choir.

The song will be performed for the first time on Thursday by multi-award-winning Gaelic singer, Ruairidh Gray (pictured) who is in his fourth and final year of the Traditional Music degree, studying under Iseabail T. MacDonald.

Ruairidh, who hails from the village of Daliburgh on the island of South Uist, is only the second person to have won the gold medal and the traditional gold medal at the Royal National Mòd in 2022.

“I’ve known Ruairidh and his singing since he was about 15,” said Mary Ann, who graduated with a BA Music degree in 1987.

“My mum is Kenna Campbell, who was the original Gaelic song lecturer at RCS, and she and Iseabail are great buddies. Having that connection and knowing him, and being a big fan of his singing anyway, has been a lovely part of the process.

“I’m a huge advocate for creating new music using Gaelic – it’s important that it’s a living, working language, as well as being part of our cultural heritage.”

A Showcase of Gaelic and Scots Song

7.30-8.30pm

Ledger Recital Room

Tickets are £10, with £8 concessions and £6.40 for Young Scot card holders.

Book in person or online at the RCS Box Office