Fiddle player Daniel Thorpe named Young Traditional Musician of the Year

A battle between five exceptional finalists has resulted in Daniel Thorpe, 23, from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, being named Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2010.

The competition, which was held as part of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow on 31 January, is held by BBC Radio Scotland every year and has been running for 10 years. The award offers the winner numerous high-profile performance opportunities and the chance to record his or her own CD.

Thorpe, a previous finalist, is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD). In winning the competition, he follows in the footsteps of Gaelic singer James Graham, who won in 2004, and 2008's victor, guitarist Ewan Robertson. He is the second consecutive fiddler to win the award - fiddler Ruairidh Macmillan won in 2009.

'I am absolutely delighted and surprised', Thorpe told BBC Radio Scotland, which broadcast the event live on the night. 'I'm still coming to terms with winning, I've got a permanent smile on my face and I think it'll be there for the next three weeks!'

Thorpe began playing the fiddle aged seven. He currently performs with ceilidh band Heuch and Canterach, and has previously played with the Garioch Fiddlers and the National Children's Orchestra of Scotland.

'All the previous winners have gone on to enjoy great success and I'm certain that will be true for Daniel', said Jeff Zycinski, head of BBC Radio Scotland. Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop also offered her congratulations. 'This award is hugely important in making sure we recognise and nurture the talent of young traditional musicians in Scotland', she added.

The other five finalists were Paddy Callaghan (accordion, harp) from Glasgow, Mairi Chaimbeul (harp) from Sleate, Lorne MacDougall (pipes) from Carradale, Hannah Phillips (harp) and Kyle Warren (pipes) of Helensburgh.

All of the finalists receive one year's membership of the Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA), a tour of Scotland organised by the TMSA and a session on BBC Radio Scotland's Travelling Folk programme.

The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year contest was founded to maintain interest in and appreciation of traditional music. To find out more and find out about next year's competition, visit the website.

www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/

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