91Èȱ¬

Here are the 2020 finalists. Picked from the 12 semi-finalists by judges Maeve Mackinnon, John Mulhearn, Rachel Hair, Steve Byrne, Louise Hunter and Iain MacInnes.

The 6 finalists will compete to be the 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the year on Sunday, February 2 2020.

Voice (Lewis)

Raised in the rich musical landscape of the Outer Hebrides, Josie Duncan has long been able to enthral listeners with her melodic and finely honed approach to traditional song. Since graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she has performed across the globe to rapt audiences.

Accordion (Uist)

Pàdruig Morrison, from Grimsay in Uist, performs regularly with Beinn Lee, and also with Causeway Trio (Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalists), as well as various solo projects. He has written several 91Èȱ¬ Alba soundtracks, composes in the contemporary classical field, and is studying for a PhD in Composition.

Whistles, pipes (Dingwall)

A finalist of this Award back in 2018, Ali is considered as one of the leading instrumentalists on the Traditional Music Scene. As well as a background and success in competitive piping from an early age, it’s his unorthodox whistle playing which proves his rising awareness amongst audiences. This can be heard from his band, ‘Project Smok’.

Fiddle (Perthshire)

Scottish fiddle player, musician and teacher Mhairi is originally from Perthshire but now living in the Highlands of Scotland. Mhairi has a wealth of experience when it comes to performing, teaching and making music with musicians from all over the world! Playing the fiddle has always been a passion of Mhairi’s.

Guitar, mandolin, voice (Aberdeenshire)

Calum McIlroy is a guitarist, mandolin player and singer from Elrick in Aberdeenshire. A student at the acclaimed Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he has been tutored by highly regarded musicians such as Kevin MacKenzie, Ali Hutton and Fiona Hunter. He fronts his own trio featuring Megan MacDonald (Eabhal, HEISK) on accordion, and Ruairidh Gollan on fiddle.

Voice (Aberdeen)

Born in Aberdeen, Cameron is a twenty one year old Scots singer and fiddle player. He is currently in his final year of undergraduate studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland having previously attended Plockton Music School. Cameron toured with Iona Fyfe in 2018 and has recently returned from playing in the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton.

Here's the full list of semi-finalists. As ever the semi-finals were full of 12 instrumentalists and singers from all round the country.

They were:

• Calum McIlroy – Guitar, Mandolin, Scots Song. (Aberdeenshire)
• Savannah Donohoe – Flute. (Ireland)
• Eddie Seaman – Pipes/Whistles. (Edinburgh)
• Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul – Accordion. (Skye)
• Scott Figgins – Highland Bagpipes. (Irvine)
• John Dew – Highland Bagpipes. (Crieff)
• Padruig Morrison – Accordion. (Uist)
• Josie Duncan – Voice. (Lewis)
• Cameron Nixon – Voice. (Aberdeen)
• Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul – Voice. (Skye)
• Alexander (Ali) Levack – Whistles, Bagpipes. (Dingwall)
• Mhairi Mackinnon – Fiddle. (Perthshire)

The semi-finals were held in Coulter Hall, Coulter, South Lanarkshire on the 23rd November at 7.30pm.

The semi-finalists stayed in Wiston Lodge, South Lanarkshire where they rehearsed with accompanists Mhairi Hall and Michael Bryan and took part in workshops about aspects of the music business.