Blas Commission 2026: Opportunity for musicians

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The Blas Festival inviting proposals for a musician, or collective of musicians, to compose and/or arrange suitable traditional music and Gaelic song for a performance, or performances, to be premiered at this year’s Blas Festival, due to take place between 4 and 12 September 2026. 

 

The main aim of Blas is to celebrate Highland music, Gaelic language and culture and the festival is held each year throughout the administrative area of The Highland Council with additional events occasionally held in the Western Isles.

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The Blas Festival programming group is seeking proposals for the creation of a performance that would be a fitting celebration of Highland culture and heritage. It is hoped the new commission will be performed as the second half of a longer performance evening.

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Themes may include, but are not limited to:

 

• Celebrating 40 years of Gaelic medium education in the Highlands

• People and Community

• Seanchas – The oral tradition

• Nature and Landscapes

• Heritage and Renewal

 

The commission piece should incorporate traditional music and Gaelic song, or present new music and songs inspired by Gaelic music traditions.

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While not wishing to be prescriptive and though not essential, the inclusion of young singers and/or musicians from local Fèisean would strengthen any proposal. 

 

Budget 

There will be a budget of up to £4,000 available to the successful proposer/s who will be expected, as appropriate, to:

 

• Compose new material or select and/or arrange existing material to be included in the performance

• Record guide tracks and prepare sheet music/song words for the participants

• Lead rehearsals, perhaps online in the first instance

• Be available, along with the selected participants, for a series of performances during the Blas Festival.​

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Proposals

Details you should consider in your proposal:

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• Your initial proposal should be presented on one A4 page

• The work to be created should have relevance to the aims of Blas including Gaelic language

• The final performance should be around 40 minutes long

• Provide detail of experience you think relevant to this opportunity

• Ensure you list any personnel you intend to collaborate with to deliver this commission.

 

Deadline

Please submit proposals by e-mail to Blas festival blas@blas.scot by 5:00pm on Monday 9th March. All submissions will be treated confidentially.  We may need to discuss a budget for the performances before reaching a decision, but we would hope to offer a contract to the successful proposer/s by Monday 23rd March 2026.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the commission fee is for the creation of a performance piece.  All costs for the performance/s, including musicians’ fees, accommodation, travel and technical needs, will be negotiated and covered separately by the festival.  If young people from Fèisean are to be involved, Fèisean nan Gàidheal would be very happy to collaborate with the successful bidder to ensure this happens.

 

The Blas Festival is delivered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with The Highland Council with funding from various bodies including the council, Creative Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.