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 Tutor and Co-ordinator

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

We recognise the challenges many young people face in building a career in music and the need for paid work experience and training opportunities.

We launched a new trainee tutor programme aimed at young people aged 18-25. 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 NYPBS 2023-24 year of activity.

Sheena Peteranna - Pipes

Sheena Peteranna is an experienced piper and flautist from South Uist. Her repertoire and technique were shaped by her widely admired and praised tutors Iain MacDonald and James Duncan MacKenzie. She is a recent graduate from BA Applied Music at the University of the Highlands and Islands. She performs regularly with her band An Carra.

Hamish Wallace - Snare Drum

Hamish was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Hamish taught within communities in Papua New Guinea and was a drum tutor at his school, Haileybury Pipes & Drums. It was these experiences that led him to develop a love for teaching and sharing his passion.

Since moving to Glasgow in 2020, Hamish is now entering his final year of study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is enjoying the thrill of competing in Grade 1 with the Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band.

Fionnlagh Mac A' Phiocar - Pipes

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.

Bronwen Davies - Bass/Tenor Drum

Raised in Oban, Bronwen began playing the fiddle at the age of 6 and picked up the tenor drum at the age of 9. Throughout her years as a tenor drummer Bronwen has taught places such as Fèis Latharna and Sgoil Lionacleit.

Bronwen has been building her career in the world of traditional music. She has been a member of the up-and-coming traditional band ‘Rhuvaal’ and appears on their debut EP ‘Horizon’. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Applied Music.

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