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.

Congratulations to oboist, Chris Vettraino S4, who won the Gilbert Innes Woodwind Prize competition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Juniors last weekend. A special mention must also go to S6 pupil Lewis Graham who was highly commended in the same competition on clarinet. Congratulations to both pupils.

Three of our percussionists, S2 pupils David Aiton and Ewan Millar plus Ethan Skuodas S6, have been invited to take part in Tectonics Glasgow on Sunday 8th May at 6.15pm in the Old Fruitmarket.  The students will be performing alongside professional musicians from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and our own percussion instructor, Elspeth Rose.  Tectonics Glasgow is an annual music festival of new and experimental music presented by the BBC SSO at the City Halls and Old Fruitmarket.  This year the festival takes place on 7-8 May.

Congratulations to S2 pupil Liana Storey who has been awarded the W Lindsay Lamb memorial bursary for pianoforte.  The bursary, founded in 1932, is awarded annually to the candidate who passes with the highest distinction marks in Grade 8 in Glasgow.

Congratulations to the following pupils on their success in their recent Associated Board and Trinity examinations.

ABRSM

S1 Pupils: Elliot Ferguson Grade 4 Flute with merit, Anna Ghiro Grade 5 Bassoon with distinction, James Ross Grade 4 Bassoon with merit

S2 Pupil:  Liana Storey Grade 8 Oboe with distinction

Trinity/Guildhall

S1 Pupil:  Orla O’Shea Grade 4 Clarinet with merit

S2 Pupils: Cara Martin Grade 4 Clarinet with merit, Eilidh Mathieson and Aamina Syyed  Grade 4 Flute with merit

We are always delighted to celebrate the talent of the pupils at Williamwood so please let Mrs Selbie know if we have missed anyone out.

The Spring Concert is taking place in Williamwood High School at 7pm in the street on Wednesday 23rd March.  Tickets are available at the music department at the cost of £4 adults, £2 concession.  This should be a very entertaining evening with a variety of bands, ensembles and choirs taking part.

Our annual Young Musician of the Year competition took place on Thursday 17th March in the music department.  This year again the standard of performance was exceptionally high with the judges commenting that they thought they were at a specialist music school.  The Junior winner was pianist Liana Storey S2 with bassoonist Anna Ghiro S1 as runner up.  The Senior winner was clarinettist Lewis Graham S6 with oboist Chris Vettraino S4 as the runner up.  Congratulations to all the pupils involved.