Routes to Roots

Routes to Roots is an artist-led organisation and Scottish-registered charity dedicated to creating original music through cross-cultural collaboration. Founded by Scottish violinist and composer Catriona Price, we bring together musicians from diverse backgrounds to co-create new work that fosters intercultural understanding, empathy and creative exchange. At the heart of our mission is a belief in music as a vehicle for dialogue, connection, and the celebration of cultural diversity.

Our two core aims are:
- Artistic excellence and innovation in music
- The promotion of intercultural understanding across borders through music

Our work is delivered through two main strands:
- Our self-produced ‘Rumbo’ festivals, including international artist residencies, live shows, collaborative composition labs, community workshops, talks, and community engagement.
- Partnership projects in collaboration with leading cultural institutions, allowing us to contribute to wider artistic programmes and reach broader audiences.

During development we’ve collaborated with artists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Malawi, Mongolia, Canada, and Scotland. We have received support from Creative Scotland, Deutsche Bank, and public crowdfunding. Milestones include five major intercultural collaborations, a debut EP release, and a sold-out show at Celtic Connections.

Looking ahead to 2026, our first full year of activity, we will launch Rumbo Oaxaca, our Mexico-based residency and festival, and host the first edition of Rumbo North Isles - a new festival in Orkney and Shetland. We’re also developing collaborations with Celtic Connections, Edinburgh International Festival, and the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen.

With collaboration at its core, Routes to Roots reimagines musical traditions through a contemporary lens, building bridges across genres, cultures, and communities. We aim to create music that resonates beyond borders and fosters lasting artistic and human connections.