The Traditional Music Forum (TMF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Ó hEadhra as their new Director. An accomplished professional with decades of experience as a musician, educator, project manager and publisher, Brian will take up his appointment from January 2025, continuing the work of the TMF which aims to maximise the potential of traditional music in Scotland.
Ó hEadhra was raised in Newfoundland, Canada and then Dublin, Ireland, and comes from a very musical family. Now based in Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland, he is an acclaimed musician and singer-songwriter, performing solo, as a session musician, and with acts Brian Ó hEadhra and Fionnag NicChoinnich, and McKerron Brechin Ó hEadhra. Brian performs traditional and contemporary music and song predominantly in Gaelic and English, and was nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year at the prestigious MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2019.
Ó hEadhra’s previous organisational roles span the arts, heritage, and Gaelic language sectors. For 14 years he worked as the Partnerships and Development Manager for Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body in Scotland for promoting Gaelic development. Prior to this, Brian was Scotland’s first Gaelic Arts and Culture Officer with Creative Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig. In both roles Ó hEadhra has been pivotal in championing Gaelic arts and culture at local, national and international levels.
The Traditional Music Forum was founded as a membership organisation in 2008 with the intention that it should advocate for traditional music as a vital and visible element of Scottish culture, valued by people, communities and the nation. 2012 saw the formation of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), a co-operative network which champions Scotland’s shared traditions of music, song, storytelling, dance, crafts, customs and local languages, bringing together the Traditional Music Forum, the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, and the Scottish Storytelling Forum.
With headquarters at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile, the Traditional Music Forum and TRACS embrace flexible working. This approach has enabled Brian Ó hEadhra to join the team from his base in Inverness, underscoring the organisations’ commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
New Director of the Traditional Music Forum, Brian Ó hEadhra said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Director of the Traditional Music Forum. Scotland’s traditional music is a vital part of our cultural identity, and I look forward to working with our members and fellow TRACS forums to ensure it thrives in communities, schools, and stages across the country and beyond.”
Dr Jo Miller, Chair of the TMF commented:
“In Brian Ó hEadhra, the Traditional Music Forum has found a new Director who is passionate about traditional music, language and culture in Scotland. His appointment is key to ensuring traditional arts continue to inspire and engage people of all ages.”
Retiring Director of the Traditional Music Forum, David Francis said:
“I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Brian Ó hEadhra. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience of Scotland’s traditional music and the arts, and is committed to supporting the development of the diverse and culturally significant traditional music community.”
To find out more about the Traditional music forum, visit: www.traditionalmusicforum.org
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Brian Ó hEadhra air a chur an dreuchd mar stiùiriche ùr Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta
Tha Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta fìor thoilichte ainmeachadh gun deach Brian Ó hEadhra fhastadh mar an Stiùiriche ùr aca. Tha Brian na phroifeiseantach sgileil a tha air deicheadan a chur seachad mar neach-ciùil, neach-foghlaim, manaidsear pròiseict agus foillsichear. Bidh e a’ tòiseachadh san dreuchd bhon Fhaoilleach 2025, a’ toirt air adhart obair Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta a tha ag amas cur ri comas ceòl traidiseanta na h-Alba.
Thogadh Ó hEadhra ann an Talamh an Èisg, Canada agus an uair sin ann am Baile Àtha Cliath, ann an Èirinn, agus chaidh a thogail ann an teaghlach gu math ceòlmhor. Stèidhichte a-nis ann an Inbhir Nis air Gàidhealtachd na h-Alba, tha e na neach-ciùil agus seinneadair-sgrìobhair òrain cliùiteach a bhios a’ cluich leis fhèin, mar neach-ciùil seisean agus mar phàirt de Bhrian Ó hEadhra is Fionnag NicChoinnich, agus de McKerron Brechin Ó hEadhra. Bidh Brian a’ cluich ceòl is òrain thraidiseanta is an latha an-diugh, a’ mhòr-chuid ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla, agus bha e air a’ gheàrr-liosta airson Seinneadair Gàidhlig na Bliadhna aig Duaisean cliùiteach MG ALBA airson ceòl traidiseanta na h-Alba ann an 2019.
Tha obair air a bhith aig Ó hEadhra roimhe ann am buidhnean co-cheangailte ris na h-ealainean, dualchas agus ris a’ Ghàidhlig. Bha e ag obair mar Mhanaidsear Com-pàirteachais is Leasachaidh aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig, a’ phrìomh bhuidheann phoblach ann an Alba airson leasachadh na Gàidhlig fad 14 bliadhna. Roimhe seo, bha obair aig Brian mar a’ chiad Oifigear Ealain is Cultair le Alba Chruthachail agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Tha Ó hEadhra air a bhith air leth cudromach anns gach dreuchd ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh ealainean is cultar na Gàidhlig aig ìrean ionadail, nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta.
Chaidh Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta a stèidheachadh mar bhuidheann ballrachd ann an 2008 leis an rùn a bhith a’ tagradh airson ceòl traidiseanta mar eileamaid dheatamach is fhaicsinneach de chultar na h-Alba, anns a bheil daoine, coimhearsnachdan agus an dùthaich a’ cur luach. Chaidh TRACS (Ealainean is Cultar Traidiseanta na h-Alba) a stèidheachadh ann an 2012, lìonra co-obrachail a tha a’ cur taic ri traidiseanan ciùil, òrain, seanachais, dannsa, ceàird, cleachdaidhean agus cànanan ionadail na h-Alba, a’ toirt còmhla Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta, Fòram Dannsa Traidiseanta na h-Alba agus Fòram Seanachais na h-Alba.
Tha prìomh oifisean aig Fòram Ciùil Traidiseanta agus TRACS ann an Ionad Sgeulachdan na h-Alba air Mìle Rìoghail shuaicheanta Dhùn Èideann, agus tha iad a’ gabhail ri obair shùbailte. Tha an dòigh-obrach seo air cothrom a thoirt do Bhrian Ó hEadhra a thighinn dhan sgioba agus a bhith stèidhichte ann an Inbhir Nis, a’ daingneachadh dealas nam buidhnean a thaobh in-ghabhail agus ruigsinneachd.
Thuirt Stiùiriche ùr Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta, Brian Ó hEadhra:
“Tha e na urram dhomh gabhail ris an dreuchd mar Stiùiriche Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta. Tha ceòl traidiseanta na h-Alba na phàirt ro-chudromach den dearbh-aithne chultarach againn, agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith ag obair leis na buill againn agus le fòraman TRACS eile gus dèanamh cinnteach gun soirbhich e ann an coimhearsnachdan, sgoiltean, agus àrd-ùrlaran air feadh na dùthcha agus nas fhaide air falbh.”
Thuirt an Dr Jo Miller, Cathraiche Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta:
“Le bhith a’ fastadh Brian Ó hEadhra, tha Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta air Stiùiriche ùr a lorg a tha dealasach a thaobh ceòl traidiseanta agus cànanan agus cultar na h-Alba. Tha am fastadh seo ro-chudromach gus dèanamh cinnteach gum bi ealainean traidiseanta fhathast a’ brosnachadh agus a’ glacadh aire dhaoine aig gach aois san àm ri teachd.”
Thuirt Stiùiriche Làithreach Fòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta, David Francis:
“Tha mi ro thoilichte gum bi Brian Ó hEadhra a’ gabhail thairis na h-obrach seo bhuam. Tha pailteas de dh’eòlas aige air ceòl agus ealainean traidiseanta na h-Alba, agus tha e dealasach mu bhith a’ cumail taic ri coimhearsnachd a’ chiùil thraidiseanta a tha farsaing agus cudromach gu cultarach.”
Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu Fhòram a’ Chiùil Thraidiseanta, tadhail air: www.traditionalmusicforum.org
Instagram: @tradmusicforum | Facebook: @tradmusicforum | Cuairtlitir
