Acclaimed traditional singer and instrumentalist, Julie Fowlis has received the first Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award. Presented by the Scottish Government at this year's Mod, this new award is given to the individual, group or organisation deemed to have done the most to increase the status and profile of Gaelic at home or abroad. Fowlis, who is the current BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, only sings in Scottish Gaelic and has toured the world with ancient songs from the Hebridean Islands. A former RSAMD student, she is also an accomplished musician, playing Highland bagpipes, small pipes, whistles, oboe, cor anglais, and the button-key accordion. 

A key commitment of the Scottish Government is to increase the place of Gaelic in education, improve the status of the language throughout Scotland and support Gaelic speaking communities. Each year the Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award will celebrate the achievements of those who have furthered this cause.

To learn more about Julie Fowlis, visit her website at www.juliefowlis.com