The obituary notice of Yla Lesley STEVEN

Yla was a very special friend of the O’Riordan family. For over twenty years she supported Colin when he was in charge of all music for Edinburgh schools. She did all the slog of moving chairs and setting up music stands. She surpassed as a leader and composer of Scottish fiddle music creating a Scottish Fiddle Orchestra of world renown. After Colin’s death she promoted his mission of enabling youngsters to learn musical instruments and joyfully to perform in a variety of ensembles. She was a leading trustee of Colin’s Trust which funded hundreds of young musicians to reach for the stars. Yla was quite a remarkable woman to whom every Scot should be grateful. National music making is a very special privilege and for Scotland Yla made it happen.

Yla was a very special friend of the O’Riordan family. For over twenty years she supported Colin when he was in charge of all music for Edinburgh schools. She did all the slog moving chairs and setting up music stands. She surpassed as a leader and composer of Scottish fiddle music creating a Scottish Fiddle Orchestra of world renown. After Colin’s death she promoted his mission of enabling youngsters to learn musical instruments and joyfully to perform in a variety of ensembles. She was a leading trustee of Colin’s Trust which funded hundreds of young musicians to reach for the stars. Yla was quite a remarkable woman to whom every Scot should be grateful. National music making is a very special privilege and for Scotland Yla made it happen.

I was so sad to learn that Yla had passed away I came to know her as a neighbor to my Mum on Moray st and because we had a shared love of cats.I live in the US but always kept in touch and visited with Yla when I was back in Scotland.I was so looking forward to seeing her this visit but sadly it was not to be.I loved Yla’s fiddle playing but my memories of her will primarily be of her extreme kindness to my Mum after her stroke she was always there for my Mum providing friendship and support for which our family will be eternally grateful.She was truly an exceptional person and will be greatly missed Tracy and Chloe Eaton

It's hard to know where to start summing up Yla's contribution to Scottish Fiddle music. I first remember her when I was 8 as a teacher at Corstorphine primary. She was a constant presence through the Edinburgh Secondary School orchestras with the legendary Dr Colin O'Riordan. At Craigmount High School she formed a fiddle group and took groups of us to competitions around Scotland, my first being in Kinross. The picture is of that group. That was followed by many trips to Banchory and Kirriemuir. Those trips were an education in growing up - we were shepherded yes, but allowed to experience a much broader social scene than in school. In 1980 she invited us to join the newly formed Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and were introduced to the great John Mason. The SFO would charter a train down to London for the annual concert at the Albert Hall - that was some craic! I remember well the 40th anniversary concert of Craigmount High School she organized in 2010 in the Usher Hall with over 100 fiddlers on stage including many former pupils. When she took over as conductor of the Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society it went from strength to strength and I was grateful to have been able to record their latest CD from their 2024 concert in Blackford. Her contribution to Scottish music was acknowledged with her 2015 British Empire Medal. So many memories, such an untimely loss to the community.