NYPBS TEAM

Steven brings years of experience in teaching, recording, performing and Musical Directing to his role at the NYPBS.

Equally at home with traditional piping, contemporary folk music and composition, Steven has built a diverse career, performing as a member of one of the country's leading folk bands, running multi-genre youth music projects, and composing & arranging contemporary instrumental music.

Perhaps best known for his work with the band RURA, Steven has toured the globe extensively across line-ups within traditional music and beyond.

From his beginnings, as a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2008, Steven went on to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerlyRSAMD).

Steven's recent solo work includes performing and composting projects, including the collaborative Tryst project amongst some of Scotland's leading creative pipers and leading the pipes in Hans Zimmer's score for Dune.

Steven Blake - Director

David Shedden - NYPBS Producer

David, from Glasgow, started playing pipes at the age of 9. Learning first from his father, Stuart, he went on to have lessons at the National Piping Centre. David was fortunate enough to have many brilliant tutors including the late, great Donald MacPherson.

David, an alumni of the NYPBS himself, graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2015 with a First Class honours degree in Scottish Music. It was while studying at the RCS he developed a love for composition and began playing whistles.

As a teacher, David began his career leading various classes at the National Piping Centre while still at university. Since then, he has taught for both Falkirk and Glasgow City Councils within schools, and as a tutor on the RCS juniors programme. David is also an examiner for the SQA music exams.

David has played at the highest level in pipe bands, playing with Grade 1 pipe bands such as Scottish Power and Boghall and Bathgate. He enjoyed considerable success as a solo player in both Piobaireachd and light music, and is now an in demand folk musician. To hear David’s most recent work, check out his award winning band ‘Assynt’.

Away from piping, David is also a keen cyclist and way too nerdy about good coffee.

Grant Cassidy - Senior Drumming Tutor

Grant Cassidy started his journey in pipe band drumming at the young age of 4, under the guidance of his father John Cassidy. By the age of 8, he began receiving tuition from the legendary Bert Barr and went on to become an 8-time consecutive juvenile world solo drumming champion from 2006-2013.

His skills led him to become the Leading Drummer of Uddingston Pipe Band G2, who were crowned World Drum Corp champions in 2022. He has also achieved the Grade 1 World Drumming title and Champion of Champions accolades with Shotts in 2011 and SLOT in 2016.

Adding to his impressive list of achievements, he was awarded the North American Solo Gold Medal Champion in Kansas City in 2018. He is a full-time member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers since 2012, touring and performing all over the world. He has also worked taking Pipe Band drumming to new frontiers, working with popular bands such as The Chemical Brothers, Skerryvore, Niteworks, and Fat Suit.

NYPBS TRAINEE TUTORS

Our Trainee tutor programme is now entering its fourth year and it has been incredibly well-received. This structured training and work experience is targeted towards recent music graduates, current music students or those with a strong foundation in music and ability to play and an interest in working with young people. Each trainee gains real-world professional development opportunities throughout the year.

Find out more about our Trainee Tutor Programme here

Emma Hill

Growing up in Connel, Oban, Emma has always been immersed in traditional music. With tuition from world-class piper Angus McColl, she regularly competed in both solo and pipe band, but is now inspired by the folk music scene of Glasgow, playing pipes, whistle and flute.

Graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's prestigious Traditional Music Programme, Emma began her teaching career whilst still in university with classes at the National Piping Centre. She has since become a tutor in their Youth and Communities Team, leads chanter projects for North Lanarkshire Council, and teaches chanter/piping at Oban's Fèis Latharna.

Arren McWilliams

Arren joined Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band in September 2023 after moving

from Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, to Glasgow to study Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Drumming since age 10, he has played Grade One since 2016 with PSNI, Field Marshal Montgomery, and now Shotts & Dykehead. A successful juvenile soloist, he recently returned to adult competition.

Fionnlagh Mac A' Phiocar

A native, 21-year-old Gàidhlig speaker from the Isle of North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, Fionnlagh has been immersed in Traditional Music all his life.

Fionnlagh’s instrument is the Scottish Smallpipe, and he combines his playing with Gàidhlig song, to create contrasting textures, which he weaves together in performance to create a euphonic, visceral sound which washes over audiences.

Every year, our programme connects young people with industry topping mentors and collaborators.