2024 Prize Winners

2024 Princess Margaret of the Isles Memorial Prize for Clarsach

Scottish Performing Arts Classic

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

The Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts, together with the Robert Burns Society of Charleston, are pleased to announce that, on 1st June 2024, Abbie Palmer of Washington D.C. won the tenth annual Princess Margaret of the Isles Memorial Prize for Clarsach held as part of the Scottish Performing Arts Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Abbie Palmer is a multi-genre musician, composer, recording artist, music therapist, teacher, meditation facilitator, and music director.

With roots in World music, Classical training, and a contemporary writing style, Abbie brings an eclectic and eccentric flavor to any stage. She is most known for her unique percussive style of playing on the harp as well as her gentle and sometimes haunting singing voice.

Abbie’s musical roots began in Celtic music and was on stage performing on harp at the Maryland Renaissance Festival starting at childhood. Abbie went on to focus on Classical music in college and received a dual degree in Classical harp performance, gaining skills and knowledge as an orchestral harpist.

2024 Dan R. MacDonald Memorial Prize for Scottish Fiddle

Scottish Performing Arts Classic

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

The Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts, together with the Robert Burns Society of Charleston, are pleased to announce that, on 1st June 2024, Maggie Adamson of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, won the fifth annual Dan R MacDonald Memorial Prize for Scottish Fiddle held as part of the Scottish Performing Arts Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.  Dr John Turner, a Lifetime Member and Past President of Scottish F.I.R.E of was the judge.

Maggie Adamson is a musician from the Shetland Islands, Scotland, who plays fiddle, violin, accordion and piano. She has played with several groups, including Swingin’ Fiddles. Ms Adamson has always enjoyed different kinds of music and finds that the traditional and classical styles complement each other. Taking the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s classical music course rather than its Scottish music course has allowed Ms Adamson to keep her options open for the future. She enjoys orchestral work as much as the Shetland-French Canadian-Scottish-Cape Breton-swing tune selections.

2024 Joseph MacDonald Memorial Prize for Piobaireachd

Scottish Performing Arts Classic

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

The Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts, together with the Robert Burns Society of Charleston, are pleased to announce that, on 31st May 2024, Alastair Murray of Northern Ireland won the third annual Joseph MacDonald Memorial Prize for Piobaireachd held as part of the Scottish Performing Arts Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.  Mr. Jack Lee of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada was the judge.

Alastair Murray was born in Northern Ireland, brought up in local pipe bands, including Gilnahirk Pipe Band, Bangor Cal Pipe Band, and Glassdrummond Pipe Band, through the guidance of Francis Strain and Fred Russell.  He has played with top Grade 1 bands Ravara, Ballycoan, and St Laurence O’Toole.

Alastair is thankful to have received excellent tuition from William McCallum and most recently Bill Livingstone. Alastair's recent piping successes include first place finishes in the North American Grade B Piobaireachd, the American Piobaireachd championship, and the Gold Medal Competition at the Ligonier Highland Games.  He has won several prizes in the silver medal at Winter Storm in Kansas City and the Canadian gold medal competition.  Alastair has been overall Ohio branch champion in both Piobaireachd and light music six times in a row and won multiple prizes in Scotland, Ireland, and North America.