As with its piping sibling, the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship plays out in Blair Castle's great hall. Here, appropriately enough, the great Perthshire fiddler Niel Gow oversees proceedings from his portrait, situated just above the glass case that holds the fiddle he once played regularly for a previous Duke of Atholl.

Being a contest between younger players, the fiddle event doesn't feature quite the consistent fineness of articulation and weighty musicianship of the piping championships. However, there was much to enjoy in each contestant's contribution, including Kathryn Matthews's strong north-east-accented style, Shona MacFadyen's rhythmically assertive slow strathspeys and reels, and Daniel Thorpe's unaccompanied slow air with its attractive drone and melody arrangement.

Aidan Broadbridge, uniquely, eschewed the piano altogether. He played his entire set unaccompanied, introducing a slight Nordic element into his opening lament, and bouncing bow on strings very effectively on the Banks Hornpipe. Megan Henderson continued her family's strong musical tradition with a graceful slow air and natural ease on James Scott Skinner's tricky Hurricane.

It was difficult to argue with the judges' choice of top three, however. The winner, New York-born Calum Pasqua, played with real confidence and expression, working closely with his accompanist, Susie Petrov, on piano and skilfully varying his attack from robust up-tempo playing to a delicately soulful Hector the Hero. Second-placed Raemond Jappy, from Aberdeenshire, gave a splendid account with a sweet tone, smooth articulation and genuine feeling for each tune's form. And although last year's winner, Gemma Donald, came third, her native Shetland verve, coupled with mature command of her instrument, suggested that she'll be the next Shetlander to make a major impression on the wider scene.