High School pupils comprise a tenth of the NYOS Development Orchestra

This year, seven High School pupils have been selected to be a part of the acclaimed National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) Development Orchestra – the largest proportion of pupils from one single school, making up a tenth of the entire orchestra. 

NYOS Development features aspiring orchestral musicians aged 11-18, who have reached Grades 5-8 and are keen to develop their musicianship and orchestra experience with a view to one day playing as part of NYOS. It offers Easter and Summer holiday residential orchestra courses leading to performances in Scotland’s top concert halls and further afield. 

The pupils performed in the NYOS Development Spring Concert during the Easter holidays on Saturday 19th April at Perth Concert Hall with the programme featuring Avril Coleridge-Taylor's ‘Sussex Landscape’, Óscar Navarro’s ‘Clarinet Concerto No 1’, Daniel Kidane’s ‘Breakbeat’ and Smetana’s 'Vltava' from Má Vlast. 

Sisters Catherine I (S4) and Elizabeth I (S2) featured as violinists alongside Catilin K (S3). Caitlin also played a prominent piano part in the clarinet concerto alongside a professional clarinetist from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Lachlan T (S2) featured as the first bassoonist, with Jamie M (S4) and Hailey G (S1) as cellists and Minnie B-W (S5) on the trombone. 

In addition to playing in the NYOS Development Orchestra, Catherine I is also in the NYOS Symphony Orchestra which features musicians up to the age of 25, and will be performing in Germany this summer. 

The School also has four pupils in the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) Training Choirs, with brothers Jacob S (S2) and Theo S (S4) performing in the NYCOS Boys’ Choir in St Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow during the Easter holidays. Meanwhile, Winona S (S2) and Jaya S (S2) sang in the NYCOS Girls’ Choir, performing at a concert in St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. 

S5 pupils Stella M and Sophie H are in the National Youth Choir Of Scotland (NYCOS), a choir for young people between 16-25 and recognised internationally by audiences and artists as one of the best choirs in the world. This summer, they will take part in their course, but in the interim, just before the Easter holidays, the girls sang as part of the RSNO Youth Chorus in the Scottish debut of ‘Uprising’ by Jonathan Dove in the Usher Hall and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, with Stella featuring as a vocal soloist. 

Finally, Rory S (S6), Sasha W (S6) and Robbie L (S4) are in the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland (NYPBS) which provides development opportunities for young people aged 10-25 through its National Pipe Bands. Sasha and Robbie performed in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday 19 April as part of the NYPBS.

Commenting, Mrs Sarah Stuart, Director of Music, said:

Music is at the heart of the High School and takes us back to our Glasgow Cathedral Choir School roots. Over one third of Senior School pupils participate in one-to-one individual tuition in school for at least one instrument and over 50% of our pupils are involved in the making and performing of music on a weekly basis. 

“We are incredibly proud of the pupils selected to take part in the various national ensembles and orchestras available in Scotland, it is a true testament to their skills as they are highly competitive and feature some of the best aspiring musical talent in our country. To have one tenth of the NYOS Development Orchestra from The High School of Glasgow alone is particularly noteworthy.” 

“In addition to participating in these national ensembles, our pupils are also part of the various choirs, orchestras and ensembles we offer in school. There are numerous performing opportunities across the school year and pupils have the chance to perform in prestigious venues such as Glasgow Cathedral and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. 

“Studying music promotes confidence and self-awareness. Pupils practise independently displaying self-discipline and motivation to maintain excellent standards of musicality through one-to-one lessons, in weekly rehearsals and with others as part of a larger ensemble. They learn the importance of collective responsibility and working as a team, skills that translate to many aspects of life, creating fully rounded individuals.” 

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To find out more about The High School of Glasgow’s Music department, click here:

https://www.highschoolofglasgow.co.uk/senior-school/academics/departments/music