BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2026, Rachel Groves is a lever harpist and composer hailing from Banchory, Aberdeenshire.
Rooted in Scottish traditional music, she draws on influences from jazz and global folk traditions as vehicles to explore the rich textural and rhythmic possibilities of the instrument.
She has recently moved to Glasgow, where she enjoys playing in the city's vibrant session scene. A graduate of Berklee Valencia, Rachel is curious about the lever harp’s role as a contemporary and collaborative voice within traditional music.