A night celebrating the strength and diversity of Scotland’s traditional music scene ended in triumph for Rachel Groves, who was named BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2026 at a live final in Glasgow.

Broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC ALBA on Sunday 1 February, the event brought six outstanding young performers to the stage of Glasgow’s City Halls, each competing for one of the most coveted titles in Scottish traditional music.

Reacting to her win, she said:

“It’s amazing to win and I am in shock. To have played in this space alongside such talented performers is incredible. I’d like to thank my first harp teacher, Alison Bell, who joined me here this evening.”

Rachel, a lever harp player from Aberdeenshire, impressed judges with a performance that showcased both technical mastery and adventurous musical imagination.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Valencia and the University of Edinburgh, she draws on jazz, classical and global folk influences to explore the rhythmic and textural possibilities of the lever harp — an instrument often associated with tradition, but here pushed boldly into new territory.

Alongside her performance career, Rachel leads the Scolty Harp Ensemble in the North East and teaches lever harp, helping to nurture the next generation of musicians.

Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland, praised both the winner and the wider field.

“What a wonderful night celebrating Scotland’s young musical talent. Each and every performance was remarkable and shines a light on just how strong and diverse Scotland’s traditional music scene is,” she said.

“Our audiences — whether listening on BBC Radio Scotland, watching on BBC ALBA, or sitting here at City Halls — could not fail to be uplifted by their talent. The judges had a very hard task choosing a winner. Huge congratulations to Rachel on lifting the title, and to all the performers for entertaining us so brilliantly.”

Rachel competed alongside five other musicians, each representing a different strand of Scotland’s evolving traditional music scene.

Iona Fyfe (Scots song), from Aberdeenshire, grew up immersed in bothy ballads and traditional singing competitions. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she is deeply inspired by the North East’s source singers and is a passionate advocate for the Scots language. She has toured internationally and is currently the Rector of Aberdeen University, the youngest in its 500-year history.

Craig Harrison (fiddle) discovered traditional music in County Clare at the age of seven. Now based in Glasgow, he performs professionally with the Gle Mhath Ceilidh Band and Ape House, and is a former All-Britain Fleadh senior fiddle champion.

Calum McGregor (piano and piano accordion) began his musical journey at just five years old with Irish Minstrels CCÉ in Glasgow. A regular competitor at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, he won the Senior Piano competition and now tours internationally, including as pianist with the Irish dance show Celtic Steps.

Gregor Niven (accordion) started playing aged seven and trained at the Royal Conservatoire Juniors and Douglas Academy Music School in Milngavie. A familiar face on the Glasgow session scene, he has recently formed a new band and continues to develop his style under the guidance of Andrew Waite.

Ewen Rorie (fiddle) grew up in Orkney, learning from acclaimed fiddler Jennifer Wrigley. He went on to form his band Skeldro while at university and has performed internationally, including with the Shetland tattoo fiddlers.

First established in 2001, the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition is designed to support emerging talent with performance opportunities, mentoring and professional exposure.

It also marks the first of Radio Scotland’s major annual music competitions, alongside the Young Classical Musician of the Year, Young Jazz Musician of the Year and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year.

As well as the prestigious title, Rachel Groves receives a BBC Radio Scotland recording session, a performance at the Scots Trad Music Awards, a concert slot at HebCelt 2026, and one year’s membership of the Musicians’ Union — a prize package designed to help turn promise into a sustainable career.