It is with great sadness we share the news of the passing of Yla Steven BEM who died suddenly at home this week.
This has come as a great shock and our thoughts are with her family but also with her extended musical family.
Yla was an exceptional musician, former Leader and Principal Soloist of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and Musical Director of the Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society.
Born in Edinburgh, she grew up surrounded by music and was immersed in the traditions of Scottish music from an early age.
She was the first winner of the Daily Record Golden Fiddle Award in 1976, having already won top prizes at Kirriemuir, Banchory and Aberdeen festivals.
After studying at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, she taught violin, viola and cello for Edinburgh City Council.
She founded the Lothian Schools Strathspey & Reel Society and inspired and guided generations of young players, many of whom still perform today.
As well as composing and arranging she recorded and broadcast extensively. Her partnership with the late Colin O’Riordan produced cherished recordings, including Solos and Duets, a lasting testament to their shared love of the music.
Yla dedicated herself to Scottish fiddle music.
She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 for services to music and was recently inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame (see the November 2024 edition of the SFO Newsletter (PDF download) for more on Yla’s induction into TMHF).
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We will all have our own special memories of Yla.
It is difficult to adequately celebrate her enormous contribution at this sad time but that opportunity will come. She will be deeply missed but her legacy will live on.
Bob Diament,
Chair,
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.