Blog - BirnamCD

BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2021

09/06/2020

Applications are open for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2021. Applicants between the ages of 16 and 27, either a singer or instrumentalist, are asked to submit audio and video playing traditional Scottish Music.

A panel of judges will review all entries and select a shortlist of 12 entrants by early July. The semi-finals are currently due to take place in October and from that, 6 finalists will perform on Sunday 31^st January 2021 as part of Celtic Connections Festival**.

The prize will consist of:

A recording session with BBC Scotland in Glasgow
An opportunity to perform at the Scots Trad Music Awards.
One year’s membership of Musicians Union.

All 6 finalists will receive one year’s membership of the TMSA and the opportunity to take part in the annual TMSA Young Trad Tour.

The deadline for entry is Midnight on the 25th of June 2020

For more information please visit BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician

Funding

GDMT 2020 Performance Award Funding

karen

14/05/2020

The GDMT 2020 Performance Award Funding is open to self-employed, professional Scottish traditional musicians who have limited savings and require some financial assistance – successful applicants will receive an award of £250.

The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust (GDMT) was formed, as a tribute to Gordon, following his tragic death in 2005. The Trust aims to preserve and build on Gordon Duncan’s legacy by funding and supporting young traditional musicians.

In addition to the application form, applicants are asked to supply a 5-minute video of them performing exciting and cheery music, including one of Gordon Duncan’s tunes. All applicants will be considered by the GDMT Musical sub-Group and if successful the Trust will also post the video performance on their YouTube channel and showcase the performance in the Gallery section of the website. GDMT asks that in return, the successful applicants also share GDMT links across their own networks.

To be eligible to apply you must be over 18 years of age and a self-employed, full-time professional musician who plays Scottish traditional music either in a solo capacity or in a group or band and you must be financially dependent on your musicianship

For more information please visit: https://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/2020-awards/

Music

Coronavirus Support and Information for Musicians

karen

01/04/2020

Coronavirus Support and Information for Musicians – For musicians based in Scotland the Traditional Music Form has compiled a very useful resource which provides information on a wide range of topics. For example, funding/financial help via Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary fund, Musicians’ Union Coronavirus Hardship fund, PRS Emergency Relief fund, Help Musicians: Coronavirus Hardship fund. Mental health support and links including Help Musicians: Music Minds Matter campaign, MITC (Music Industry Therapist Collective) Guide to Anxiety Relief & Self Isolation. It also details various creative ideas, for example, Hands Up for Trad: A Guide to hosting a live concert from your living room.

There are currently 2 surveys being undertaken across Scotland:

The Scottish Music Industry Association is gathering information from as many businesses and music practitioners working in Scotland as possible in relation to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Culture Counts: COVID-19 Impact Survey is for organisations and individuals in Scotland’s arts, screen heritage & creative industries. The survey results will help Culture Counts to communicate the needs of the sector due to the impact of Covid -19, to decision-makers in government and in parliament. The survey is open until May 2020.

For links to the surveys and for more information please visit:

https://www.traditionalmusicforum.org/news-post/newsid/22289-coronavirus-covid-19-useful-resources-for-traditional-musicians/

UK wide support is provided via the https://www.coronamusicians.info/ website which is a collaboration between various organisations including Help Musicians UK and the Musicians’ Union. It aims to be a central source of support and advice for all musicians during the coronavirus period. It provides information and links covering the following areas:

Government advice, Money worries, Legal / business advice, Health issues, Mental health, Creative development, Working online and other helpful information.

We hope you all keep healthy and safe in these worrying times.

Funding

Funding opportunity – Jerwood Bursaries

karen

19/02/2020

Funding opportunity – Jerwood Bursaries provide funding of up to £1,250 to expand and invigorate artistic practice, enabling artists to experiment with new ideas and undertake professional development activity. This might include exploring new materials or collaborations, specialist mentoring, or participation in professional training, conferences and workshops.

Applications are particularly welcome for:

mentoring, coaching, critical feedback
professional and/or specialised training
taking part in conferences or workshops
networking and/or membership of artistic networks
learning specific skills and knowledge
undertaking first-stage research

Artists can apply for funding between £250 – £1,250.

Applications must be received by: 5pm, Monday 9 March 2020

For more information please visit: https://jerwoodarts.org/opportunities/jerwood-bursaries/

Creative Live Music Music

Contemporary Music For All – Open Rehearsal

karen

20/01/2020

Contemporary Music For All – CoMA Glasgow – Open Rehearsal for players of any instrument and ability.

CoMA Glasgow is a new, open and welcoming contemporary music ensemble for players of all instruments and abilities, supported by professional musicians, composers and an impressive library of music.

CoMA Glasgow is part of the well-established CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) group, which was first founded in 1993 to enable musicians of all abilities to participate actively in contemporary music. CoMA now have a network of ensembles all across the UK, with a growing international programme.

The first ‘demo day’ was held in November 2019 and the group are now planning rehearsals and working towards an open workshop/performance on Saturday 7^th March 2020 at the Scottish Music Centre in Glasgow, as part of the 3^rd Festival of Contemporary Music for All.

Rehearsal dates and times:

Rehearsal 1: Sunday 12 January 14:00-17:00, Brunswick Merchant City Hotel Glasgow.

Rehearsal 2: Tuesday 21 January 19:00-21:00, Scottish Music Centre

Rehearsal 3: Saturday 15 February 14:00-16:00, Scottish Music Centre

Open Performance: Saturday 7 March 14:00-17:00, Scottish Music Centre

A music/dance collaborative project is also due to be launched and more details of this will be discussed at the rehearsals.

To find out more and register for the rehearsals please visit: http://www.coma.org/get-involved/ensembles/glasgow/

Festive

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

karen

19/12/2019

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We will be closed from 5pm Friday 20th December and we will re-open at 9am on Monday 6th January 2020.

We hope you all have a lovely time over the festive season and we look forward to working with you in 2020.

Very best Christmas wishes to you all,

The Birnam team.

Funding

Transmission Fund

karen

10/12/2019

The Help Musicians UK Transmission Fund provides grants of £500 – £1,500 to fund opportunities that focus on developing creative practice and furthering professional development. It’s open to emerging and professional musicians (instrumentalist, composer, producer, conductor, vocalist or singer-songwriter etc and bands or ensembles consisting of 6 members or less) of all genres and disciplines.

The fund can be used to support:

Tailored development opportunities such as workshops, artist residencies, conferences, masterclasses, writing retreats and short courses
Short periods of training and mentoring with a leading professional in your field to improve your creative practice or offer support and advice ahead of an important career opportunity (eg. a period of touring or recording)
Travel, accommodation and access costs relating to the above
Opportunities must be primarily focused on developing a career as a musician

The deadline for applications is 10th January 2020.

For more information please visit:

https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/creative-programme/current-opportunities/transmission-fund

Awards Awesome Live Music Music

Trad Music Awards – Voting open

karen

11/11/2019

2019 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards – Voting open. The Music Awards highlight Scotland’s traditional music in all its forms. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony which this year will be held in Aberdeen Music Hall on 7^th December.

The Shortlist categories include:

Album of the Year

Belhaven Bursary for Innovation

Club of the Year,

Composer of the Year,

Community Project of the Year

Event of the Year

Gaelic Singer of the Year,

Musician of the Year, Live Act of the Year,

Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year,

Scottish Dance Band of the Year,

Scottish Folk Band of the Year,

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year,

Trad Video of the Year

Music Tutor of the Year,

Up and Coming Artist of the Year,

Venue of the Year,

To vote for your favourite or to buy a ticket for the awards please visit: https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/voting/

Awards Creative Fabulous Funding Music

Peter Whittingham Jazz Award Fund

karen

18/09/2019

The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award Fund is a £5,000 award given to an emerging jazz musician or group to enable them to undertake a creative project which will support their professional development. The award can be used to fund recording, filming, touring, performances, mentoring, collaboration, promotion.

It’s open to creative, ambitious and committed jazz musicians and groups who can demonstrate that the proposed project will help develop their career. To apply, musicians are asked to provide a biography detailing musical development, recent activities within the jazz scene and career achievements. Two recordings of music must also be submitted and at least one must be an original composition.

Deadline for submissions is 9 am, Monday 14^th October 2019.

Applicants will then be shortlisted for audition which will be held in London on Friday 1^st November 2019.

For more information please visit: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/creative-programme/current-opportunities/peter-whittingham-jazz-award

Awards Creative Music

SAY Awards – voting open

karen

12/08/2019

SAY Awards – voting open. The public vote for the SAY Awards 2019 is now open. The 72 hour public voting window for the Scottish Album of The Year is open now and closes at midnight this Wednesday, 14^th August. The Longlisted album which secures the most votes will automatically gain a place on the Shortlist, as well as a guaranteed minimum prize of £1,000.

A further 9 albums, decided by the SAY Award judging panel, will make up the shortlist which will be announced live on BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday 15^th August between 9-10pm.

The Scottish Album of the Year Award ceremony will take place at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Friday 6 September 2019. The winning artist will pick up a £20,000 cash prize, with the 9 runners up each being awarded £1,000. Each Shortlisted artist will also receive an exclusively designed piece of artwork from the SAY Award Design Commission.

To place your vote, please visit: https://www.sayaward.com/

Showcase Scotland 2024: Wide Days event opportunity