A pianist from Shetland has been named BBC Radio Scotland’s young traditional musician of the year.
Amy Laurenson was announced as the winner at a ceremony on Sunday in Glasgow’s City Halls.
The 23-year-old has played for number of Shetland festivals and holds a first-class honours degree in traditional music.
As part of her prize, Ms Laurenson has won a recording session and an opportunity to perform at the Scots Trad Music Awards later in the year.
Wow! Absolutely huge congratulations to Amy Laurenson from Shetland who is 2023 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.
Not only has she picked up this prestigious title, her band Tern was also named as one of this year’s Danny Kyle Open stage winners today pic.twitter.com/aWEf2EOpec
— ShetlandFolkFestival (@shetlandfolk) February 5, 2023
She also has received a one-year membership to the Musicians Union.
Celebrating the win, Ms Laurenson said: “I am stunned and delighted to be the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician for 2023 and to follow in the footsteps of past winners, who are such an inspiration.”
‘A truly worthy winner’
Ms Laurenson became committed to learning traditional music aged 16 when she began attending lessons from her inspiration and Shetland’s best-known pianist, Violet Tulloch.
In 2017, she moved to Glasgow to study classical piano at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before switching to the traditional department in 2019.
During her time studying, Ms Laurenson developed an interest in traditional music from Norway, Sweden and mainland Scotland as well as from her home.
Sgairteil 🔥🔥🔥
Nach math a rinn iad uile. @BBCRadioScot's Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Amy Laurenson!https://t.co/vWFlgxiGqG pic.twitter.com/4SdK2QVBQ7
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) February 5, 2023
Gareth Hydes, commissioning editor from BBC Scotland, said the award was well deserved.
“Amy is a truly worthy winner amid a stunning array of talent this year,” he said.
“Once again the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician award has resulted in a final of six amazing and emerging performers.
“My congratulations to Amy and I hope, as with other previous winners, this award is a stepping stone – and hopefully a major highlight – of a blossoming career in Scottish traditional music.”
Other finalists nominated included Orkney-born Aiden Moodie and Mairi McGillivray from Islay.
Conversation