Glasgow's RSAMD has in recent years developed a reputation for churning out some of the finest musicians and brightest stars on the Scottish Folk Scene through it's Scottish Traditional Music Course. Phil Cunningham will take over as Brian McNeil steps down from the department's top job.

Phil Cunningham, instrumentalist and composer perhaps best known for playing accordian with fiddler Aly Bain as well as recent BBC documentary series 'Scotland's Music with Phil Cunningham', will take up his new post at the RSAMD in September. "This is an exciting opportunity for me and I can't wait to work with the staff and students of the academy's Scottish music department," he said.

Professor John Wallace, principal of the RSAMD, said: "Phil Cunningham was right in at the beginning of the Scottish Music degrees in the academy as an adviser when we originally created the BA in Scottish traditional music and the piping degrees. It's so important that we keep a strong sense of continuity in these courses, that are torch-bearers for Scottish identity."