Celtic Connections: BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final 2024

The final of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition brings 6 of the country’s rising stars to the stage as they battle for this career-defining accolade.

This year’s finalists are:

John Dew – Bagpipes (Perthshire)

Calum McIlroy – Guitar, Mandolin & Voice (Aberdeenshire)

Ruairidh Iain Gray – Voice (South Uist)

Evie Waddell – Voice, step dance percussion (Stirling)

Matt Tighe – Fiddle (London)

Ella Munro – Voice (Skye)

Always a Celtic Connections highlight, the final guarantees first-class musical entertainment as well as showcasing emerging talent. Past winners include fiddler Gillian Frame, concertina-player Mohsen Amini, and singer Hannah Rarity. The competition was founded in 2000 as a way of encouraging young musicians to keep their tradition alive and is now an established feature on the cultural landscape, with winners receiving expert support as well as high profile performance opportunities to help launch their careers. Who will win this year’s coveted quaich?