manx celtic music and dance

NAMA winners - Manx music & dance related awards

01 Aug 2014


NAMA winners
The North American Manx Association (NAMA) honoured young people under 25 from across the Island for their exceptional contributions to
Manx culture and life with silver medallions last month.

2014 recipients relating to Manx music & dance were:


Outstanding achievement in Manx Music: Owen Williams, 13, Castle Rushen High School

Owen is a dedicated member of the Manx music youth group Bree – Manx for ‘vitality’ – which performs at many community events. He is  self-taught on a wide range of instruments, such as the whistle, concertina and bagpipes, takes piano lessons and plays cornet with a brass band. He enjoys composing Manx music, with his band ‘The Unwanted’ recently winning a Manx Folk Awards competition category with his composition.


Outstanding contribution to Manx Culture by a student under the age of 18: Michelle Jamieson, 16, Castle Rushen High School

Michelle is an accomplished and dedicated musician, actor and dancer, who has held the titles of Young Singer in Mann and Young Actor in Mann. Representing the Island at the recent Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, the band Shenn Scoill, in which Michelle is the Manx Gaelic singer, beat off competition from fi ve other Celtic nations with their song, Tayrn Mee Thie (Drawing Me Home). She has played various roles through her work with amateur dramatic societies on the Island including her role as Mary in the promenade performances of the Manx Passion during Holy Week 2014.


Outstanding contribution to Manx Culture by a group under the age of 25: Michael Primary School


As part of their Island of Culture celebrations, the school held a special week exploring Manx culture ending in an exhibition and concert for family and friends. The pupils have created Archibald Knox style artwork and Celtic crosses, listened to Manx folklore and performed Manx traditional dances, researched local wildlife and learnt to make Bonnag. The school staff and pupils strive to ensure that Manx culture is an everyday part of school life from Infants right through to Year 6.


Another young Manx musician was rewarded for her Outstanding achievement in Manx Language by a student under the age of 18: Isla Callister-Wafer, 17, QEII High School


Winner of the Manx music category in 2012, Isla continues to make a remarkable contribution to Manx culture, making it both visible and accessible to people of all ages. Her enthusiasm, commitment and sense of humour have all helped her in working closely with Culture Vannin to help develop, record and produce numerous short Manx videos for the Manx Gaelic Video-a-Day project.


Full report here


Massachusetts-based youth folk dance group ‘And Sometimes Y’ were also honoured with a DEC/Manx North American Award for their contribution to maintaining an awareness of the Isle of Man and its culture. Jeant dy mie!

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