Clarsach player Pippa Reid-Foster, from Kilcreggan, is celebrating after reaching the semi-finals of BBC Radio Scotland’s young traditional musician awards.
After submitting a ten minute recording of her work she has reached the final 12 in the competition and now will perform at the Coulter Hall in South Lanarkshire.
The best six of the musicians will go through to the final at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland.
Pippa graduated in textile design from Heriot-Watt University before gaining a place on the Masters in Scottish Music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she is now entering her second year.
Born and brought up on the west coast of Scotland, her musical career began learning the piano, progressing to cello, whistle and bodhran before settling with her instrument of choice, the clarsach.
”When I heard I had got through to the semi-finals I was overwhelmed,” she said.
“I couldn’t quite believe the news as it is such a prestigious competition, especially for young traditional musicians starting their careers.
“I am so excited and looking forward to competing in the semi-finals but until then I have a lot of intense practice to do over the next six weeks perfecting my programme.”
The other semi-finalists are: Alistair Iain Paterson – piano (Bishopton); Edward Seaman – pipes, whistle (Edinburgh); Graham MacKenzie – fiddle (Inverness); Ian Smith – accordion (Tiree); Jack Badcock – song, guitar (Edinburgh); Kirsty Law – song (Borders); Kirsty Watt – song (Isle of Lewis); Mhairi Marwick – fiddle (Fochabers); Neil Ewart – fiddle (Kilchoan); Robyn Stapleton – Song (Stranraer) and Suzanne Houston – piano, song (Golspie).
Simon Thoumire, director of Hands Up for Trad, said: “Again we have another brilliant line-up of talented young musicians. The semi-finals are always a great concert showcasing Scotland’s young talent.”
The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award is now in its 14th year and exists to promote traditional music as a career and to give the musicians the opportunity to add to their knowledge of the business.
Prizes include a recording session with BBC Radio Scotland, performance at the Scots Trad Music Awards and membership of the Musicians’ Union and the TMSA.
For more details of Pippa’s work visit her Facebook page.
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