Singer wins BBC Young Traditional Musician 2025

Ellie Beaton plans to release her debut album whilst working towards a masters degree

Aberdeenshire singer Ellie Beaton has been named the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician for 2025.

The 22-year-old from Rothienorman, who recently graduated in classical vocal studies from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), said she was "shocked but completely delighted".

The prize was announced at a show featuring six finalists at Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Alba.

The BBC Radio Scotland contest is regarded as one of the biggest platforms for emerging talent in traditional music.

Ellie was brought up immersed in the deeply rooted traditions of the north east of Scotland and her music has taken her across the UK and Europe, performing at festivals such as Celtic Connections and Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

In 2021 she was a finalist in the same contest and became the youngest winner of the MG Alba Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year.

Ellie told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that she "always stays true to her Doric Aberdeenshire roots".

She said: "I'm using my own dialect of Aberdeenshire Doric. It's got such a rich style, there's over 3,000 songs from Aberdeenshire specifically, so just playing into that and taking as much of the words and culture as I possibly can."

Ellie plans to release her debut album this year

She paid tribute to Gavin Greig and James Duncan who collected the songs in the early 20th Century.

"We owe a lot to them for the continuation of this tradition," Ellie added. "Maybe winning this can showcase Doric and put Aberdeenshire a bit more on the map."

BBC presenter Joy Dunlop, who is also an award-winning singer, said Ellie "thoroughly deserves the prestigious title".

"She gave an outstanding performance, and we hope this accolade allows Ellie's traditional music career to continue to go from strength to strength," she said.

Ellie also won a recording session and appearance on Radio Scotland's Travelling Folk, an opportunity to perform at the Scots Trad Music Awards, and one year's membership of Musicians Union.

Ellie plans to release her debut album this year and begin a masters degree.

Organised by BBC Radio Scotland, the Young Traditional Musician competition has been increasing the profile of Scottish traditional music and recognising rising talent in the genre since 2001.

It has been a springboard for numerous Scottish traditional music exponents to international acclaim.

Last year's winner was Calum McIlroy, a mandolin and guitar player, also from Aberdeenshire.