Shetland Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland, is a subarctic archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands and Norway. It is the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about to the no ...

's Young Fiddler of the Year is an annual competition held over two days organised by the

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 (Vagaland), who served until his death in 1973, after which John ...

. It is open to fiddle players 16 or under from Shetland with around 80 entrants each year. The most entries ever received were 110 in 2014. 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: *Yelena Anderson (2022) *Magnus Williamson (2021,aged 15) *Ashley Hay (2019, aged 13) *Emma Leask (2018, aged 14) *George Spence (2017) *Jodie Smith (2016, aged 13) *Bryden Priest (2015, aged 15) *Sophie Moar (2014, aged 16) *Callum Watt (2013, aged 15) *Laura Smith (2012, aged 14) *Hannah Adamson (2011, aged 13) *Liza Fullerton (2010, aged 15) *Chapman Cheng (2009) *Maggie Adamson (2008, aged 16) *Miriam Brett (2007) *Ryan Couper (2006) *Mary Rutherford (2005) Member of Kollifirbolli *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' Bid Fiddlers' 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. The band ...

Jenna Reid Jenna Reid is a Scottish fiddle player who has been described as "...the finest fiddler in Scotland of her generation." She was born and brought up in the village of Quarff, in the Shetland Islands of Scotland and found a fiddle in her grandmo ...

(1995, aged 14) Solo performer and member of Filska and Dochas *Stuart Grains (1994) Member of Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag *Magnus Johnson (1993) *Bryan Gear (1992) *

Chris Stout Chris Stout (born 1976) is a Scottish fiddle/violin player from Shetland, now based in Glasgow. Stout grew up in Fair Isle 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

*David Keith (1990) *Jenny Napier (1989) *Peter Gear (1988) Now with Bongshang *Andrew Deyell (1987) *Emma Johnson (1986) Previously with Rock, Salt & Nails and Shetland's Young Heritage) *Jeanna Johnson (1985) Previously with Shetland's Young Heritage *Jacqueline Sinclair (1984) *

Catriona MacDonald Catriona Macdonald is a musician and teacher from Shetland and is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players. Background Macdonald started studying fiddle with Dr Tom Anderson MBE in 1981 at age 11 (she consider ...

(1983) Academic, solo performer and member of

Blazin' Fiddles Blazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase Scotland's distinct regional fiddle styles. The band have a number of awards, including; the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards L ...

. Previously with Shetland's Young Heritage) *Margaret Robertson (1982)

References

Information gleaned from Shetland-Music websit
Shetland-Music
Shetland fiddlers Scottish awards 1982 establishments in Scotland British music awards Awards established in 1982 {{Shetland-stub