Formed in 1998 to nurture traditional accordion and fiddle playing in the county, the Orkney Traditional Music Project has, over its two decades since, tutored well over 1,000 students in its weekly classes.
Conceived by the three music playing societies in Orkney at the time – the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society, the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society, and the Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club - the project has helped to nurture many fine fiddlers and accomplished accordionists over the last 20 years. A number of its former players have since gone on to become professional musicians – further enhancing the reach and audience of Orkney’s traditional music styles - many of whom can be seen throughout this festival’s programme. Such is the project's fine work, it was named Community Project of the Year at the 2010 Scots Trad Music Awards.