Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2010

A former Academy student has been named as the BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year

The accolade has been won by fiddle player Daniel Thorpe from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. He battled it out with another five finalists as part of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.

Daniel, 23, studied in Plockton before graduating with honours from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

The award gives him many high-profile performance opportunities, and the chance to record his own CD.

The competition was established 10 years ago to encourage young people to keep traditional music alive.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Congratulations to Daniel on this wonderful achievement.

"This award is hugely important in making sure we recognise and nurture the talent of young traditional musicians in Scotland."

For past winners, the award has proved to be a major springboard towards a professional career in music.

Previous title-holders include Red Hot Chilli Pipers' musician and and RSAMD graduate Stuart Cassells (2005), Gaelic singer James Graham(2004) and guitarist Ewan Robertson (2008).