2026 FESTIVAL

ADJUDICATORS

Accordion Section

Robert Black, (TRADITIONAL AND CLASSICAL ACCORDION)

Robert has been playing the accordion now for over 55 years and during his illustrious career has amassed a wealth of diverse musical knowledge and experience. He has won Scottish Accordion Championship 6 times and his accompanying and directing skills have been employed by most of Scotland's top artistes, including Andy Stewart, Kenneth McKellar, Jimmy Logan, Bill McCue, Moira Anderson, Moira Kerr, Colin Stuart, Peter Morrison, Johnny Beattie, Valerie Dunbar, Alan Stewart, Andy Gray, Barbara Dickson.

He moved to London in 1987 to further his classical studies with distinguished accordionist and teacher John Leslie. This enabled Robert to develop not only in the classical field but in different styles of accordion music: French Musette, Cajun and Jazz. This ultimately led him on to tour in such musicals as "Fiddler on the Roof", "Irma La Douce", "Oliver", "Bitter-Sweet" and "Le Cage aux Folles". It was in London where he further cultivated his appetite for composing and arranging.

Having to return to Scotland in 1990 and using Edinburgh as his base, Robert continued to work in London and throughout the UK as well as performing in many overseas venues. He released his debut CD "Breaking New Ground" in 1991 endorsed by the great accordionist Jack Emblow.

In 1993, Robert was invited to play the accordion and act the part of "George" in Brian Friel's play "Wonderful Tennessee', Robert's debut as a thespian. The World première was at Dublin's Abbey Theatre where it ran for six months before moving to Broadway.

His numerous radio broadcasts and recording credits include having played, broadcast or recorded with such luminaries as Ian Powrie, Jimmy Blue, Alex McArthur, Bill Black, Jim Johnstone, Iain MacPhail, Duncan Black, Ron Kerr, Simon Howie, James Lindsay, Ian Muir, Wayne Robertson and many, many more.

Despite these achievements he would always like to be known as a humble and modest individual who is still completely in awe of the world's greatest accordionists.

Ian Muir, (TRADITIONAL AND CLASSICAL ACCORDION)

Ian started playing accordion at the age of 8 and progressed through the British College of Accordionists exam system under the tutelage of Jim Hutcheon.

He began playing professionally in 1978 and appeared with many Scottish Variety artistes including Peter Morrison, Alistair McDonald, Calum Kennedy and Andy Stewart to mention just a few.

Ian played lead accordion with Kenny Thomson and the Wardlaw Scottish Dance Band before forming his own band in 1984. He has regularly recorded for BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘TAKE THE FLOOR’ and even presented the programme when Robbie Shepherd was on holiday.

He has travelled extensively, playing for Scottish dance events all over the world including Winter School in Australia, Summer School in New Zealand, Asilomar weekend in California and many times in Canada for TAC, Edmonton weekends and Vancouver 50th Anniversary.

Ian has recorded several Scottish Country albums, Old Time dance and solo accordion albums. His two most recent recordings were done in Canada with his friends in the Tartan Ties Band (Judi Nicolson, Kathy Fraser Collins and Fred Collins).

For 28 years Ian tutored at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly Royal Scottish

Academy of Music and Drama) until retiring in 2022.

Ian has recently been appointed Music Director of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

Tom Orr, (TRADITIONAL ACCORDION)

Tom Orr is recognised for pushing the boundaries of Scottish Dance Band music with his energetic style, fresh tunes & creative arrangements. As an accordionist he was fortunate to be taught through Keith Dickson acclaimed accordion school and was part of the youth group KODA which provided early exposure & insight to the unique life experiences music can offer. In the early years, Tom’s development was framed around classical and traditional solo competitions. Year by year, level by level increasing in difficulty and building technical ability. Tom was successful as a solo competitor winning the All Scotland Senior Scottish on three occasions. However, playing in a Scottish Dance Band is what ignited his passion for music. This all started at the NAAFC festival’s band competition which for many years was the primary focus of finding novel tunes, creating arrangements and forming a band of fellow minded friends. This drive for creativity hasn’t stopped since which continues to provide Tom with amazing opportunities to perform across Scotland and beyond, meet a diverse range of people and collaborate with some amazing musicians. None of which would have been possible without the network of accordion & fiddle events especially the competitions such as NAAFC festival and Perth.

Jackie Raeburn, (TRADITIONAL ACCORDION)

Jackie was introduced to Scottish music from the age of 2 ½ as a highland dancer.

She started playing the piano accordion at the age of 7 and switched to the 5 row when she was 11, under the tuition of Jimmy Shand Jr.

In 1982, at the age of 19 and a pupil of Bert Pozzi, Jackie won the All Scotland Senior Open Accordion Championship for traditional music at Bill Wilkie’s Accordion Festival in Perth. On the same day, she also won the Senior Open Accordion competition for Pipe Music and the All Scotland Senior Ladies Accordion Championship for traditional Scottish music.

As well as leading her own trio or quartet throughout the 80’s and into the 90’s, Jackie also played second accordion or keyboard with many bands over the years, including second box with Jack Delaney’s Band and most recently with Graeme Mitchell’s Band.

After taking time out from playing for a number of years due to work and family commitments, Jackie and husband Billy regrouped in 2023 with other like-minded friends who they had played with over the years, to form the Pure Scotch Ceilidh Band. The band has been busy playing for ceilidh dancing throughout Scotland ever since and try to gig as much as possible in the traditional 6 piece Scottish Dance Band format.

In 2024, the members of Pure Scotch Ceilidh Band were delighted to be awarded Scottish Dance Band of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards.

Charlie Kirkpatrick, (TRADITIONAL ACCORDION)

Originally from the Island of Iona, but for many years resident in Glasgow, Charlie is a well-known exponent of the Shand Morino 3 row button key accordion. For many years he has led his own highly successful band, playing mostly in the Glasgow area for weddings, dances, ceilidhs, etc. No stranger to the accordion and fiddle club scene, Charlie has previously adjudicated at our Festival and has also acted as compere at the Celebrity Luncheon following the AGM. In addition, he has appeared with his Trio at nearly every Accordion & Fiddle Club – from Shetland in the north to Dumfries in the south. Along with his band, Charlie has taken part in many ‘Take The Floor’ broadcasts over the years.

Fiddle Section

Charlie Mckerron, (FIDDLE)

Recently described as a “Wonderful, high octane fiddle player and composer”, Charlie Mckerron has now clocked up 36 years on the road as a professional musician. From winning the Daily Record Golden Fiddle award in the early 1980’s, Charlie went on to join Gaelic supergroup Capercaillie in 1985. They have achieved over 1 million album sales to date, as the band goes beyond it’s 39th year. Charlie was raised in a musical family. Father (Keith Mckerron) and Great Uncle (Tom Mckerron) were both North East fiddle players, encouraging him to pick up the fiddle from the age of 9. In 2005 Charlie won the first ever “Composer of the Year” in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. His compositions are widely performed and recorded throughout the traditional scene and can be heard regularly at pub sessions. Charlie has written music for film and documentary and contributed to the soundtrack for the Hollywood Blockbuster “Rob Roy”. He received 2 Royal Television Society Awards for co-writing the music for the 6 part BBC Scotland drama series “Gruth is Uachdar” (Crowdie and Cream). He has more recently composed the soundtrack for Scottish film “Zip n’ Zoo” and “Four Men and a Malt”. Charlie has appeared regularly on screen and television throughout his career with Capercaillie and Session A9; and as a soloist with highlights being “Rob Roy”; “Zip n’ Zoo”; BBC Scotland’s “The Songs of the 45”; and an appearance on the first series of “Transatlantic Sessions”. As well as touring with Session A9 and Capercaillie , Charlie has recently worked with Zakir Hussain, and featured in Dougie Maclean‘s Perthshire Amber Festival. He has joined “Celtic Fiddle Festival” and plays with The Jenny Sturgeon Trio; and Mckerron Brechin and O’Headhra. Most recently he has been out on the road with “Charlie Mckerron and Friends” featuring Ross Ainsle, Tim Edey and Marc Clement.

Stella Wilkie, (FIDDLE)

Stella has been playing the fiddle for more years than she cares to remember. She comes from a family steeped in Scottish music with her brother and father being well known accordionists with whom she played at Scottish Country Dances.

She was lucky enough to have tuition from great fiddle players including Angus Fitchet and Ian Powrie and to play with many band leaders including the late Bobby Crowe and Jimmy Blue.

Stella played with accompanist Joan Blue for many years and developed a great friendship. She now tends to play unaccompanied fiddle at concerts, with dance bands when invited as well as pub sessions, particularly in Dunkeld. She thoroughly enjoys playing with Hjaltibonhoga and the Tattoo fiddlers where she has made many friends.

As a previous winner of the NAAFC competition, she is delighted to be back adjudicating at the Partick Burgh Hall, Glasgow.