Claire Hastings wins BBC Alba Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015
A Dumfries singer has realised her dream of winning one of the most prestigious accolades in Scottish music.
On Sunday in Glasgow’s City Halls, 25-year-old Claire Hastings ran away with the title of BBC Alba Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 and says she is still in shock.
“It’s been a dream come true,” Claire said. “I’m over the moon.
“I’ve been following the competition for years and always watched the finals thinking that one day that could be me. Now it is me. I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s amazing.”
The former Wallace Hall Academy pupil came up against five of the most talented young musicians on the Scots trad circuit but managed to impress the judges in her favour, despite a viral infection in her throat that prevented her from rehearsing.
“I was worried that I hadn’t had as much rehearsal time as everyone else because my voice was so hoarse. I felt I wasn’t quite ready for the performance.
“A few days before the event, though, my throat cleared and I just gave it my best on the night.”
The five other finalists were Skye fiddler Seamus O’Baioghill; singer Ainsley Hamill from Cardross; Gemma Donald (Shetland) on fiddle; clarsach player Heather Downie from Dunblane; and fiddler Ryan Young, also from Cardross.
Both Heather and Claire play in a traditional folk band called the Top Floor Taivers and each was rooting for the other’s success in the competition.
Claire explained: “I had a great time with all the finalists, all of whom are amazing musicians.
“None of us felt we were competing against each other and Heather and I were really pleased that, together, we had two shots at winning.”
For the finals, Claire presented a 15 minute series of Scot’s Songs, one of which – Come Spend a While wi Me – was written by the great and much-loved Lionel McClelland of Moffat who died in 2010.
You can see Claires performance on this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02j3kfd
“I had Dumfries and Galloway very much in mind when choosing my songs,” Claire said.
“The song Come Spend a While Wi Me has such beautiful lyrics, of friendship and loss, that mean a lot to many people.
“The fact that Lionel McClelland was from my region gives me a very special connection with that song.”
Another song in the set, the House at Rose Hill, was self-penned and the award, which includes a recording session with BBC Scotland, will enable Claire to begin making a debut album which will showcase her talents as an outstanding songwriter as well as an exceptional singer.
Winning the award will open up a great number of future opportunities for Claire to perform live and be included in the line-ups on the regular festival circuits.
She is already booked to perform at the Scots Trad Music Awards concert in Dundee in November and she and the other five finalists will be performing in Dumfries in the Autumn.
On Monday, she was asked to join the line-up at this year’s Eden Festival.
Claire graduated with a first class honours degree in Scottish music from the RSAMD in Glasgow in 2011. After graduation, she travelled the world for 18 months before returning to Scotland to continue her music career. As well as songwriting and performing live, she is involved in a number of teaching programmes across Scotland.
On Tuesday, it was back to reality for Claire, giving music instruction to nursery children.
Claire is the third young female singer from Dumfries and Galloway to win the accolade.
Thornhill’s Emily Smith beat off her competition in 2008 and Claire’s fellow singing duo member Robyn Stapleton, from Stranraer, took home the coveted quaich last year.
“Robyn and I have been singing together as a duo for over three years now,” Claire added. “It’s crazy that both of us have won the award in two successive years.”
* The awards, hosted by Mary Anne Kennedy, marked the end of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival, an 18-day platform of concerts featuring top trad acts such as Le Vent Du Nord, Mairi Smith, Julie Fowlis, Kate Rusby, Declan O’Rourke, Karine Polwart and Emily Smith.
