Young Fiddler of the Year
Encyclopedia
Shetland's Young Fiddler of the Year is an annual competition held over two days organised by the Shetland Folk Society
.
It is open to fiddle players 16 or under from Shetland with around 80 entrants each year
There are two main categories, 'Open' encompassing all styles and 'Traditional' focussing on the traditional Shetland style. The categories have junior, intermediate and senior sections.
Shetland Folk Society
The Shetland Folk Society was created in 1945 as a heritage group, to gather, record and support all aspects of Shetland's cultural history. The first president was T. A. Robertson , who served until his death in 1973, after which John J. Graham took on the role...
.
It is open to fiddle players 16 or under from Shetland with around 80 entrants each year
There are two main categories, 'Open' encompassing all styles and 'Traditional' focussing on the traditional Shetland style. The categories have junior, intermediate and senior sections.
Previous winners
Previous winners of the main 'Open' section include:- Liza Fullerton (2010, aged 15)
- Chapman Cheng (2009)
- Maggie Adamson (2008, aged 16)
- Miriam Brett (2007)
- Ryan Couper (2006)
- Mary Rutherford (2005)
- Lyn Anderson (2004)
- Laura Lockyer (2003)
- Gemma Donald (2002)
- Lois Nicol (2001) Member of Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag
- Vaila Tait (2000)
- Mark Laurenson (1999, aged 14) Member of Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag
- Alexander Hutchison (1998)
- Bethany Reid (1997)
- Andrew Gifford (1996) Member of Fiddlers' BidFiddlers' BidFiddlers' Bid are a Shetland based instrumental group known for playing contemporary arrangements of traditional Shetland fiddle tunes. The seven piece line-up consists of four fiddles, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano/Clàrsach....
- Jenna Reid (1995, aged 14) Solo performer and member of Filska and DochasDóchasDóchas is the network of Non-Governmental Organisations involved in development and relief overseas and/or development education in Ireland...
- Stuart Grains (1994) Member of Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag
- Magnus Johnson (1993)
- Bryan Gear (1992)
- Chris StoutChris StoutChris Stout is a fiddle/violin player from Shetland, now based in Glasgow. Stout grew up in Fair Isle, a small Shetland island, and lived there until 8 years of age before moving to Sandwick on the Shetland mainland, then on to Glasgow in the 1990s....
(1991) Solo performer, composer, session musician and member of Fiddlers' BidFiddlers' BidFiddlers' Bid are a Shetland based instrumental group known for playing contemporary arrangements of traditional Shetland fiddle tunes. The seven piece line-up consists of four fiddles, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano/Clàrsach.... - David Keith (1990)
- Jenny Napier (1989)
- Peter Gear (1988) Now with BongshangBongshangBongshang are a band from Shetland who fuse traditional Shetland and folk styles with rock, funk, electronica and contemporary production techniques...
- Andrew Deyell (1987)
- Emma Johnson (1986) Previously with Rock, Salt & NailsRock Salt & Nails (band)The Rock Salt & Nails are a Celtic fusion band based in the Shetland, Scotland. The band formed in 1992.In 2009, the band wrote and released a single dedicated to the Scottish tennis player Andy Murray, called Volley Highway.- Line-up :2003 line-up:...
and Shetland's Young HeritageShetland's Young HeritageHeritage Fiddlers is a group of Shetland fiddle players who originally formed in 1981 under the guidance of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, who put the group together from the young pupils that he tutored. The group was originally called Tammy's Peerie Angels, then Shetland's Young Heritage...
) - Jeanna Johnson (1985) Previously with Shetland's Young HeritageShetland's Young HeritageHeritage Fiddlers is a group of Shetland fiddle players who originally formed in 1981 under the guidance of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, who put the group together from the young pupils that he tutored. The group was originally called Tammy's Peerie Angels, then Shetland's Young Heritage...
- Jacqueline Sinclair (1984)
- Catriona MacDonaldCatriona MacDonaldCatriona McDonald is a musician and teacher from Shetland and is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.- Background :...
(1983) Academic, solo performer and member of Blazin' FiddlesBlazin' FiddlesBlazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase the Highlands and Islands' distinct regional fiddle styles...
. Previously with Shetland's Young HeritageShetland's Young HeritageHeritage Fiddlers is a group of Shetland fiddle players who originally formed in 1981 under the guidance of the late Dr Tom Anderson MBE, who put the group together from the young pupils that he tutored. The group was originally called Tammy's Peerie Angels, then Shetland's Young Heritage...
) - Margaret Robertson (1982)