PRESTWICK piper James Harper is in the running to become BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.

Ex-Kyle Academy pupil James, 19, took up piping when he just was five with the Boys’ Brigade following in dad Jim’s footsteps.

He is now about to start his third year studying for a Traditional Music degree at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire in Glasgow.

James, who currently performs with the James Harper Band and the exciting new folk rock five-piece Dosca, has ambitions to perform and record as a full-time musician when he leaves the RSC.

James said he was ‘shocked’ but ‘excited’ to reach the Young Trads semi-finals.

“It was the best news I’ve had all year.

“It’s a totally nail-biting experience.

“They were a week late in giving out the results because the competition was so tough and so talented and I thought ‘I haven’t got it’.

“But the second I received the result it was shock, relief and excitement all in the same moment.” The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award is a collaboration between BBC Radio Scotland and Hands Up For Trad, a charity that promotes Scottish traditional music through awards, summer schools and residential courses.

The ‘Young Trads’ offers a dozen 16 to 25-year-old musicians a high profile opportunity to launch their professional careers.

The winner is awarded a recording session with BBC Scotland and a performance at the Scots Trad Music Awards also run by Hands Up For Trad.

James will now compete at a workshop weekend followed by a public performance at Coulter Hall in Biggar on Saturday, October 3.

The six best players will go on to the grand finals at next year’s Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.

For more information about the Young Trads go to handsupfortrad.co.uk.