The Niel Gow International Fiddle Composition Award was launched in 2008 to encourage creative fiddle composition. Based in Scotland, it seeks to attract entries from the global village of writers/fiddlers. The melodies composed need not be in the traditional Scottish style (jig, reel, strathspey, air etc), however they should in some way evoke the spirit of Gow and his Highland Perthshire homeland.

The event is staged as part of the Perthshire Amber Festival in association with locally-based promotions group The Fiddle Tree. Six finalists will be invited to perform their original melodies in Birnam, Perthshire on November 4th. The winner will receive an engraved trophy as well as a cash award of £1000. He or she will also be invited to perform the winning melody at Blair Castle during the following evening's concert as a guest of Dougie MacLean.

The 2008 award was won by Mike Vass with his tune "Cavers Of Kirkcudbright", with other finalists Cath James "Then And Now", Melinda Crawford "Lament For Mr. P. J. Ross", Mairi Campbell "The Treadmill", Karen Steven "The Inver Medley" and Calum Pasqua "Air For Ferguson" putting up a great fight. 

This event is sponsored by The Fiddle Tree, Birnam CD, Fiona Ritchie Productions (Radio & Podcasts from the heart of Scotland via NPR) and Butterstone Studios.