The music practical prelims for National 5 and Higher candidates begin on Monday 9th January.  See attached timetable to check the times.  prelim-timetable

Our popular Christmas Concert took place on Thursday 15th December in the Ena Millar Theatre.  The programme featured performances from both the senior and junior concert bands; the senior choir; senior vocal group; string orchestra; the guitar, brass and percussion ensembles; the traditional band and the big band.   The evening was very well attended and demonstrated the outstanding talents of all the pupils involved.

This year’s Young Singer of the Year competition will take place on Wednesday 25^th January. Those who wish to enter can collect an entry form from the Music department, which must be returned by Friday 16^th December. Auditions will be held on Monday 19^th and Tuesday 20^th December. Entrants are required to perform one song for their audition, but must perform two for the competition. For more information and to collect an entry form, please see Mrs Selbie or Miss Lindsay.

The opportunity for some S1 pupils to get lessons on the double bass has become available at the Saturday morning music centre.  The authority would provide the instruments and the lessons would begin in January.  If interested contact Mrs Linda Fenn at 0141 577 2568 or speak to Mrs Selbie.

Congratulations to S5 pupil Christopher Vettraino who won the Instrumental Award, last night, at the Eastwood Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition.  Chris produced a stunning performance of the second and third movements of Albonini’s Oboe Concerto in D minor.   He will now represent Eastwood at the district final in early 2017.

Once again this year we are delighted to have a number of pupils, and a former pupil, who have secured a place on the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.  They are bassoonist Campbell Lang S5, oboist Chris Vettraino S5, bassoonist Lucy Gibson S6 and past pupil Andrew Vettraino also on bassoon.

We are absolutely delighted that former pupil, Hazel McBain, is one of Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artists for class 2016/17.   Click on the image to find out more about Hazel and the other emerging artists.

Watch Tom in S5, UK Young drummer of the Year, as he performs in the new Barnardo’s advertisement.  Click on the image to see the full advert.

The WSSO Trust is a Registered Charity which provides professional training and performance opportunities for young musicians throughout west and central Scotland. This year again we are delighted at the large number of Williamwood pupils represented in a wide variety of these ensembles. The pupils involved were:

Symphony Orchestra

Sophie Boyd S5 -violin

Lewis Graham past pupil – clarinet

Lucy Gibson S6 – bassoon

Campbell Lang S5 – bassoon

Andrew McCroskie S6 – clarinet

Andrew MacLeod past pupil – trombone

Lukas Nielsen S5 – violin

Becky Paton S5 – violin

Becky Robertson past pupil – cello

Ethan Skuodas past pupil – percussion

Andrew Vettraino past pupil – bassoon

Chris Vettraino S5 – oboe

String orchestra

Maya Amir S4 – violin

Eilidh McCroskie S4 – violin

Ciara O’Shea S4 – cello

Tom Simmonds S3 – violin

Marianne Walker S4 – violin

George Weir S3 – violin

Concert Band

Alice Beglan-Grant past pupil – bassoon

Eve Burgoyne S6 – clarinet

Eilidh Galloway S5 – clarinet

Gregor McInnes S6 – french horn

Ruaridh McInnes S4 – french horn

Findlay Overend S4 – trombone

Lorna Paton S6 – french horn

Daniel Petrie S6 – trumpet

Callum Robson S6 – percussion

Alec Ross S6 – french horn

Eilidh Wilson past pupil – flute

Training Band

David Aiton S3 – percussion

Ben Drake S3 – bassoon

Morven McKinnon S3 – french horn

Orla O’Shea S2 – clarinet

James Andrew Ross S2 – bassoon

The West of Scotland Orchestral Trust has established a memorial award in memory of one of their past students Michael Stoakes.  To receive the award staff decide which pupils have been the most outstanding members of the symphony orchestra and the concert band.  This year I am delighted that two Williamwood pupils received the award on Monday night.  Alec Ross for the Concert Band and Ethan Skuodas for the Symphony Orchestra.