Congratulations to past pupil Richard Scholfield on winning the prestigious Governor’s Prize for Woodwind last week at the RCS.  This distinguished competition is awarded to the best woodwind performer studying at the RCS.    Richard is in the final year of his BMus degree studying saxophone.

Congratulations to S6 pupil Campbell Lang on winning the Scotland, North of England and Northern Ireland Regional event yesterday in the RCS.  Campbell is now through to the Grand Final which takes place in Herriot Watt University on 19th May.  We wish him all the best in the Great Britain and Ireland final.

Congratulations to S4 pupil Liana Storey who came second in the 2018 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester last Sunday.  Liana was representing the Junior Conservatoire and had to perform two pieces: Beethoven’s Bagatelle Op. 119 No.5 plus a Beethoven Piano Sonata.  Well done Liana on this outstanding achievement.

Congratulations to S6 pupil Campbell Lang who was the runner up at the West of Scotland District Final of the Rotary Club Young Musician competition in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 18th March.  Campbell now progresses to the Scotland and North of England final on Sunday 22nd April in the RCS.  We wish him good luck in the next round of the competition.

The SQA music practical examinations which were due to take place on Wednesday 28th February have been rescheduled and will take place on Tuesday 6th March.

Could all pupils going on the New York trip in October 2018 please attend a meeting in Music Studio 1 on Tuesday 6th February at 12.40pm.

The examination dates for the National 5 and Higher pupils this year have been confirmed as:

Thursday 8th March – bagpipes only

26, 27, and 28th February plus 7, 8 and 9th March for all other instruments.

Congratulations to the following pupils who have all gained a place in one of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland:

NYOS Symphony orchestra

S3 pupil:  Anna Ghiro on bassoon

Past pupil:  Alec Ross principal horn

NYJOS

S6 pupil:  Tom Potter on drum kit

NYOS Seniors

S4 pupil:  Tom Simmonds on violin

S5 pupil: Chloe Ghiro on violin

NYOS Juniors

S1 pupils: Ben Dickinson on horn, Imogen Maher and Olivia Overend on oboe

S2 pupil:  Isla Shah on violin

Congratulations to the following pupils who have all gained a place at either the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band or String Orchestra.  The pupils involved are:

WSSSO

S3 pupil:  Anna Ghiro on bassoon

S4 pupils:  Ben Drake on bassoon, Ewan Millar on percussion, Fergus Robinson on cello and Tom Simmonds on violin

S5 pupils: Chloe Ghiro and Eilidh McCroskie on violin, Ciara O’Shea on cello

S6 pupil:  Campbell Lang on bassoon, Chris Vettraino on oboe

WSSCB

S4 pupils:  David Aiton on percussion, Josef Heidinger on bassoon, Orla Lang on oboe

S5 pupil:  Alasdair Notley on oboe

S6 pupil:  Eilidh Galloway on clarinet

Congratulations to the following pupils who have a gained a place in one of the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain.

Main orchestra

S3 pupil:  Anna Ghiro on bassoon

Under 13 orchestra

S1 pupil:  Cameron Deverill on bassoon and Ben Dickinson on French horn