Jenna Cumming
Chaidh Jenna Chuimeineach, à Inbhir Nis, gu Bun-sgoil a’ Mheadhain (an t-Aonad Gàidhig) agus Acadamaidh Allt a’ Mhuilinn. Nuair a bha i san sgoil, bha Jenna an sàs ann am Fèis a’ Bhaile agus Fèis na h-Òige, agus chòrdadh e rithe a bhith seinn leatha fhèin agus còmhla ri daoine eile. Air a brosnachadh le a màthair, a’ bhana-sheinneadair Ghàidhlig Criosaidh Nic a’ Bhiocair, bha an comas seinn aig Jenna gu math follaiseach bho aois gu math òg.
Bhuannaich Jenna a’ chiad cho-fharpais aice aois deich bliadhna a dh’aois aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Dùn Omhain ann an 1994, agus bhuannaich i tòrr dhuaisean eile nuair a bha i a’ gabhail pàirt sna co-fharpaisean òigridh. Ann an 2002, ghabh Jenna pàirt ann an co-fharpaisean nan inbheach airson a’ chiad uair agus ghlèidh i Bonn Òir Màiri NicLaomainn airson seinn san t-seann nòs. Ro dheireadh 2004 bha Jenna air dà bhonn òir eile a ghleidheadh, Bonn Òir a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich ann an 2003 agus Bonn Òir Tìm an Òbain ann an 2004.
Dh’fhoillsich Jenna a’ chiad chlàr aice, Kintulavig san Dùbhlachd 2005, clàr a fhuair moladh mòr, agus san Dùbhlachd 2006 chaidh Jenna ainmeachadh mar ‘Neach-ciùil ùr gealltanach na Bliadhna’ aig Duaisean Ceòl Traidiseanta na h-Alba sa Ghearastan. Tha i air a bhith air grunn phrògraman telebhisein mar ‘Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil’ agus tha i air seinn aig tòrr thachartasan iomraiteach mar Celtic Connections agus Flower of the West, oidhche a bha a’ comharrachadh a’ chiùil aig na dithis sgrìobhadairean òrain Ghàidhlig bho Runrig Calum agus Ruaraidh Dòmhnallach, agus a’ comharrachadh na rinn iad do na h-ealain Ghàidhlig. Tha i na ceumnaiche bho Oilthigh Ghlaschu, agus tha i a-nis a’ fuireach ann an Sgalpaigh na Hearadh far a bheil i ag obair do dh’Fhèisean nan Gàidheal mar Oifigear Leasachaidh sna h-Eileanan Siar.
Jenna Cumming hails from Inverness and is a former pupil of Central Primary School (Gaelic Unit) and Millburn Academy. While at school Jenna attended Feis a’ Bhaile and Feis na h-Òige and enjoyed performing as a soloist and as part of a group. Encouraged by her mother, Gaelic singer Chrissie MacVicar, Jenna’s natural singing talent became evident at a very early age.
At the age of ten Jenna won her first competition at the Royal National Mod held in Dunoon in 1994 and continued to win many awards during her time as a junior competitor. In 2002, Jenna competed for the first time as an adult competitor and won the Mary Lamont Gold Medal for traditional singing. By 2004 Jenna was recipient of three Gold medals, winning the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in 2003 and the Oban Times Gold in 2004.
Jenna released her debut album ‘Kintulavig’ with Macmeanmna to great acclaim in December 2005 and in December 2006 Jenna was named ‘Up & Coming artist of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards in Fort William. She has appeared on a number of television programmes such as ‘Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil’ and has been involved in many prestigious events such as Celtic Connections and Flower of the West, an evening celebrating the music and contribution made to the Gaelic Arts scene by the Gaelic song writing duo, Calum and Rory MacDonald of Runrig.
