Tradition in Motion: Celebrating 30 Years of Traditional Music at RCS

Academic year 2025-26 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the BA (Scottish Music) at Scotland’s national conservatoire. There have been many changes in pedagogy, art, and society in that time; changes that continue to have an impact on the many communities which have a vital stake in traditional music’s place in higher music education in Scotland and elsewhere. Since the founding of the BA in 1996, an Honours year was added in 2000, a formal pathway for Piping was established in partnership with the National Piping Centre in 2001, and the programmes were re-launched as the BMus (Traditional Music) and (Traditional Music – Piping) in 2015. They remain the only Bachelor of Music programmes dedicated to traditional or folk music in the UK.

Despite many developments and innovations over the past thirty years, some things remain unchanged: the economic outlook across much of the UK, and elsewhere, continues to present challenges to inclusion and participation, and the expectations and aesthetics of today’s emerging traditional and folk musicians continue to present challenges of a profound character. But the collaborative environment between formal institutions is, if anything, growing in diversity and strategic impact, and innovations in technology and communication arguably create ever more fertile ground for professional development among graduates.

The conference offers a space both to reflect on the journey of traditional and folk music in higher education, and to explore the ongoing relationship between music education, intangible cultural heritage, and the wider trad/folk scene – particularly in Nordic and Celtic Europe.

In celebration and reflection, this conference will draw from a range of the above themes and stakeholders, involving panel discussions, the latest research, participation in knowledge and cultural exchange, and world-class performances.

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

The conference will take place from Tuesday 31 March - Thursday 2 April 2026 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow.

Up to date information can also be found on the dedicated conference website and provisional programme can be found here.

DELEGATE RATES

Please find details of delegate rates below. When booking your place(s) you will be given the option to pay by credit card, or if you wish RCS to invoice you for the cost, please choose this option at checkout.

Full Delegate - £340
This rate provides access to all conference sessions from Tuesday 31 March - Thursday 2 April, all conference refreshments and lunches, and attendance at the delegate dinner, delegate ceilidh and delegate concert.

Full Delegate (Independent Scholar/ Musician) - £240
This reduced delegate rate is for delegates who are not affiliated with any academic institution.

Day Delegate - Tuesday 31 March Only - £180
This rate provides access to all conference sessions on Tuesday 31 March, conference refreshments and lunches that day, and attendance at the delegate dinner and ceilidh in the evening.

Day Delegate - Wednesday 1 April Only - £150
This rate provides access to all conference sessions on Wednesday 1 April, conference refreshments and lunches that day, and attendance at the delegate concert that evening.

ACCOMMODATION

There are a number of hotels within a couple of minutes' walk of RCS - please find further information on hotels and rates here.

CONTACT

Should you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with the RCS Events Team at events@rcs.ac.uk