Young Musicians of the Year 2024

Our annual celebration showcasing the most outstanding talent from the Senior Music Department arrived a little earlier this year, acting as a fitting send-off to the Spring Term.

The much-anticipated Young Musicians of the Year Final saw the Senior School’s most talented instrumentalists and vocalists take their moment in the spotlight on Monday 25th March.

Our young musicians competed in a number of categories, with prizes on offer for the most outstanding vocal and instrumental ensembles and soloists. There was also performances on the evening from S3 and S4 performers who have displayed the most outstanding potential.

A panel of external adjudicators presided over the evening in order to decide on the most outstanding performances in each category. Professor David Watkins, former Head of Strings, international cello soloist and current Director of Chamber Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, was adjudicator for the instrumentalists while the singers were judged by Mr Graham Dickie MBE, singer, pianist, conductor and former Artistic Director of Musical Theatre at Knightswood Dance School.

On an evening of exceptional musicianship, audience members would be forgiven for thinking they were attending a show at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, given the incredible levels of talent on show, each performer wholly in command of their instrument.

Following the performances, the adjudicators shared kind words with our finalists, as well as paying tribute to the teaching staff and tutors who have guided our talented young musicians throughout the session, before announcing the winners of the four prizes.

A huge congratulations to all musicians for an incredible evening of musical entertainment!

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A full list of finalists from Young Musicians of the Year 2024 are below: 

Instrumental Solo

Winner of The Fraser MacAulay Award for the Young Instrumentalist of the Year: Maya (S4) on clarsach

Leo L (S6) on piano (Kieran P (S6) performed as a finalist on the night as Leo was unable to take part due to injury) 

Sasha W (S5) on bagpipes

Claire Z (S3) on piano
 

Vocal Solo 

Winner of The Nadine Livingston Award for the Young Singer of the Year: Erin M (S5) 

Kieran P (S6)

Tessa Q (S6)

Harriet R (S6)

 

The Peter Douglas Award for the Vocal Ensemble of the Year 

Winner: Vocal Octet 

Anya C (S6)

Laura H (S6)

Kieran P (S6)

Erin A (S5)

Erin M (S5)

Francesca O (S5)

Alex M (S4)

Landi W (S4)

 

The Peter Douglas Award for the Instrumental Ensemble of the Year 

Winner: Violin Duo

Catherine I (S3) & Elizabeth I (S1)

 

Award for Outstanding Potential - Vocal

Stella M (S4)

Maya M (S4)

Landi W (S4)

 

Award for Outstanding Potential - Instrumental

Philip M-B (S4) on piano

Robbie L (S3) on bagpipes