Our New Partnership with Royal Conservatoire Scotland
As we celebrate 30 spirited years since the opening of Lochranza Distillery, home of Arran Single Malt, we are proud to mark the occasion with a unique new collaboration that honours our shared Scottish heritage.
Together with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), we’re delighted to introduce the RCS Trad@30 Arran Single Malt Composition Prize – a new award set to inspire and support the next generation of traditional music talent.
Open exclusively to students on the four-year Traditional Music degree course at Scotland’s national conservatoire, the prize invites entries for an original composition that celebrates both the 30th anniversary of the programme and our own milestone as a proudly independent distillery.
Students have a chance to win up to £1,500, a recording session with Findlay Napier, one of the trad scene’s most influential figures, and a starring slot at this year’s Arran Malt and Music Festival in Lochranza on 29th June.
Judging the competition will be acclaimed musicians Findlay Napier and Gillian Frame – both RCS alumni and early graduates of the Traditional Music programme when it was known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Speaking about the partnership, Stewart Bowman, Lochranza Distillery Manager, said:
“It’s a real joy to collaborate with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, especially as we both mark our 30th anniversaries.
The Scottish whisky industry has such a natural connection to traditional music and this competition is a celebration of creativity, talent and cultural heritage – values we hold dear.”
The competition theme, ‘Worth Reflecting On’, ties into our wider 30th anniversary campaign at Arran Single Malt. It encourages entrants to explore ideas of memory, authenticity and personal growth – a nod to the journey we’ve taken over three decades of whisky-making on the Isle of Arran.
Professor Joshua Dickson, Head of Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said:
“Traditional music has been a catalytic force of creativity and innovation at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for over 30 years, and this partnership with Arran Single Malt is the perfect way to celebrate our joint anniversaries.
It’s especially fitting that Findlay Napier and Gillian Frame, long-time residents of Arran and two of the first musicians to graduate from our Traditional Music degree programme, are taking part in the adjudication of the competition, and I’m especially excited to see how our students respond to this amazing opportunity.”
Julie Reynolds, Head of Fundraising and Alumni Relations at RCS, added:
“It’s such a pleasure for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to collaborate with Arran Whisky on this wonderful prize, which will be adjudicated by RCS alumni and prominent figures in the trad music scene.
This partnership beautifully blends tradition and innovation, and we’re thrilled to offer this fantastic opportunity to our talented students.”
Heather Robertson, Global Brand Manager at Isle of Arran Distillers, commented:
“It’s a privilege to help celebrate the talent of emerging traditional musicians at RCS and to offer a platform that connects Lochranza Distillery with music in such a meaningful way. As we both mark our 30th anniversaries, this feels like a fitting tribute to Scottish creativity.”
The deadline for entries is 17 May 2025, and the competition is open to current RCS Traditional Music students only.