Joshua Dickson

Professor Joshua Dickson is the Head of Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and holds an Honorary Lectureship at the University of St Andrews (2014–2019). He specializes in Scottish Gaelic music traditions, particularly bagpipe history and pedagogical reform in folk music education. Born in Alaska, he earned an MA in Scottish Gaelic from the University of Aberdeen (1996) and a PhD in the history of Hebridean piping from the University of Edinburgh (2001). His research emphasizes women’s roles in canntaireachd transmission, curriculum innovation, and the intersection of traditional music with modern conservatoire education. Notable works include The Highland Bagpipe: Music, History, Tradition (2009) and When Piping Was Strong (2006). He has pioneered international conferences on folk music pedagogy and served as an external examiner for music programs across Europe.

Research interests span Gaelic oral traditions, the sociology of musical performance, and the preservation of cultural heritage through education. His work critiques post-revivalist approaches to traditional music, emphasizing authenticity and innovation. Recent publications address conceptual shifts in Scottish traditional music education and the role of literacy in folk music syllabi.

• Awards: Contributed to award-winning 2004 Edinburgh Festival recitals with Allan MacDonald’s ensemble.
• Grants & Leadership: Spearheaded curricular reforms at the Royal Conservatoire, influencing tertiary-level folk music education across Europe. Founded the Pedagogies, Practices and the Future of Folk Music in Higher Education conference series.
• Labs/Teams: Leads the Traditional Music department at the Royal Conservatoire, collaborating with institutions like Ceòlas and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.