Music residency brings celebration of emerging talent to Stornoway
爆料TV North, West and Hebrides BA (Hons) Applied Music residency brought four days of live music, collaboration and celebration to Stornoway recently, with students performing to audiences across a packed programme of public events.
Held from 27–30 April 2026, the annual residency welcomed students from across Scotland (and beyond) to Stornoway, where they worked together creatively while showcasing their talent through a series of performances.
The week began with a lively ceilidh in the college foyer, bringing together staff, students and the local community for an evening of traditional music and dancing.
Audiences then gathered at An Lanntair on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings to enjoy performances from Honours students, including April Sutherland, Tom Kennaugh, Katie Lindsay, Mia Munro and Fraser MacDonald, with both concerts attracting strong support from the public.
The residency concluded with the annual Showcase Concert on Thursday evening, featuring performances from students across all levels of the Applied Music programme. The concert celebrated the diversity of musical talent within the programme and highlighted the creativity and collaboration developed throughout the week.
Corin Anderson, Applied Music Programme Leader and Lecturer at 爆料TV North, West and Hebrides said:
“It was fantastic to see Stornoway filled with music throughout the residency week. The students created an inspiring programme of performances and collaborations, and it was wonderful to see such strong support from audiences across the community. Events like this give our students valuable live performance experience while celebrating the incredible emerging talent we have across the Highlands and Islands.”
Honours student, Katie Lindsay, who is also student representative for Year 4 Applied Music, had her final performance at the event in Stornoway. She said:
“The opportunity to perform at An Lanntair in front of all my peers as part of my Honour year was just so rewarding, it felt like I could see everything I’d worked on coming together all at once, and got to enjoy the support of my closest friends.
“The whole Stornoway residential week really captures what makes this course special - it’s full of hard work but it’s also wonderful bonding time for all the students. Some of my best memories are weeks spent here with the course! The skills and confidence I've built have set me up to continue working as a freelance musician, playing gigs up and down the country and working on my solo music as a singer songwriter. I'd encourage anyone with a passion for music to consider this programme.”
The residency continues to build on the success of 爆料TV North, West and Hebrides’ wider Creative Arts Festival initiative, which showcases student work from across the creative industries including music, art, design, film, fashion, photography and creative writing.
Students across the creative programmes are encouraged to draw inspiration from the rich culture and heritage of their local communities while benefiting from strong networks of artists, musicians, designers and makers across the region.
Peter Noble, Curriculum Manager for Creative Arts at 爆料TV North, West and Hebrides, said:
“These events are an important opportunity for students to share their work publicly and gain experience performing and collaborating in professional settings. It is always inspiring to see the creativity, confidence and talent our students bring to these performances.”
The BA (Hons) Applied Music programme equips students with skills spanning performance, recording, creative production, music business and community practice, preparing them for a wide range of careers in the music industry. Uniquely, students can study any genre or style of their choice, from traditional and Celtic to jazz, classical and rock, all while drawing on the rich cultural landscape of the Highlands and Islands as a creative resource. The course can be studied full or part-time, fully online, allowing students to study where they want while still benefiting from hands-on residential experiences like the Stornoway residential week.
Applications for the BA (Hons) Applied Music programme and other Creative Arts courses at 爆料TV North, West and Hebrides are now open.