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Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller, from Orkney and Penicuik respectively, have taken home this year's ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 2 Young Folk Award trophy. The duo's performance won over the judges during a fabulous concert held this year at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

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  It's rightly said that the standard of performance from the young entrants - aged between 15 and 20 – gets higher every year; the status of the event seems to be rising to reflect that benchmark, as more and more people appreciate that it's no token nod to the youngsters, but an opportunity to enjoy astonishing musicianship and witness folk history in the making. The capacity crowd in the QEH certainly showed their appreciation for the six acts that competed in this year’s Young Folk Award final.
  
  The unenviable task of opening the night was no problem to Welsh band One String Loose. With 50 performances already under their belts, they've gained a confidence that served them well and belies the fact that three of the quartet are only 15 years old. Playing guitar, banjo, fiddle, whistle and bass with a freewheeling, contemporary approach to Celtic music, their two tune sets included their own compositions alongside others; all tempo changes and fluid musicianship, they made a great start to a great evening.
  
  Emily Hoile proved to be another 15 year old with breathtaking skills. The Irish slow air 'Paddy’s Rambles' played on her clarsach (harp) held the audience spellbound as cascades of delicate notes seemed to hang in the air. Taking the tempo up, three beautifully-matched tunes from Scotland and Cape Breton performed with nimble fluidity and expression demonstrated Emily's absolute mastery of her instrument.
  
  Emotionally-charged, intelligent lyrics, a deftly melodic guitar style and empathic fiddle accompaniment characterised Jack McNeill & Charlie Heys’ set. Two self-composed songs, 'The Train' and 'Here For The Winter', showcased their innovative approach as Jack’s characterful voice and contemporary guitar stylings blended beautifully with Charlie’s fiddle in a display of well-controlled aural dynamics.
  
  Dogan Mehmet's Cypriot roots clearly inform his music. Following a dramatic, staccato fiddle rendition of the English traditional song 'Raggle Taggle Gypsies' - complete with foot percussion - he delivered a stirring song in Turkish, book-ended with tunes from the same country, taking the audience on a European journey with his resonant voice and rhythmic dance music.
  
  The third soloist of the evening caused another pin-drop silence with a slow air which evoked great beauty and sadness. Ryan Young exhibited a fiddle style that was anything but run-of-the-mill, his finishing set of three tunes demonstrating fantastic bowing technique, wonderful tone, a great ear for complex and cheeky tune variations – and a quirky sense of humour in the titling of his own composition, 'The Rastafarian Camel and the Singing Cloud'.
  
  As it turned out, the final act was the one that took the stage for the winners’ encore at the end of the evening. Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller clearly enjoyed chatting to the audience. The Scottish ballad 'The Burning of Auchindoon' and the traditional English song 'Mad Tom of Bedlam' provided the framework for their highly original arrangements and beautiful vocal harmonies, and a feisty step-dancing interlude of sean-nos and tap steps from Siobhan as Jeana moved seamlessly from piano to fiddle was a real treat.
  
  While the judges deliberated, last year's Young Folk Award winners entertained with their full, rich sound of twin fiddles, guitar and melodeon. Last Orders were excellent when they won the award, but now exhibit the maturity and onstage empathy that the interim year has brought them. The four lads were joined for two numbers by Maz O’Connor, notably on a heart-stopping version of Andy Barnes' Last of the Great Whales; her fresh vocals added another element to the band’s repertoire of blazing tunes which referenced many of today’s contemporary composers as well as the tradition.
  
  As guest presenter Seth Lakeman said, before bestowing the award, it’s an almost impossible task for the judging panel to make a choice, especially between singers and musicians and when all are so talented. But whatever that 'x-factor' is, Jeana and Siobhan exhibited it again when they took to the stage for their encore. Accompanied by harmonies from the audience, they sang a traditional Scottish parting song with heart and passion, two attributes which will undoubtedly assure the success of their musical future.