Following on from our fantastic productions of Hairspray and Blood Brothers, the Performing Arts department are delighted to be launching this year’s school show on Tuesday 13^th June at 12.35pm in Drama 1. Come along to learn all about our exciting new venture and the magic that awaits us this December! Pupils interested in performing and production are welcome to come along, where more details on auditions and jobs involved will be available.

We hope to see many of you there!

Congratulations to Miss Lindsay’s S3 class winners of the S3 Class Battle on Thursday 1st June.  Judges Mr Harrison and Mrs Selbie were very impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and the variety of performances from all three classes.  Each class performed a group performance with the whole class, a small ensemble and two solo items.  Included in the wide range of music was a four mallet piece on marimba, Michael Jackson medley, YMCA, Galway Girl, Shape of You mash up and David Bowies Heroes.

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

ABRSM

S1 pupils:  Madeline Boyd passed Grade 5 cello, Orla Cockton passed Grade 2 piano, Ross Gourlay Grade 2 clarinet with distinction, Sophie McAulay Grade 2 clarinet with merit, Ciara McCaughey and Maddie Spencer Grade 2 flute with merit.

S2 pupils:  Anna Ghiro Grade 5 theory with distinction, James A Ross Grade 5 bassoon with merit

S3 pupil:  Ben Drake Grade 7 bassoon with merit

S5 pupil:  Christopher Vettraino Grade 8 percussion with distinction

Trinity

S1 pupil:  Owen Davies Grade 2 Rock and Pop guitar with distinction

S2 pupil: Orla O’Shea passed Grade 5 clarinet

S3 pupils:  Josef Heidinger Grade 6 bassoon with distinction, Caitlyn Marcinek Grade 6 voice with merit, Cara Martin Grade 5 clarinet with merit

S5 pupil:  Campbell Lang Grade 8 piano with distinction

S6 pupil:  Andrew McCroskie passed Grade 8 piano

Congratulations to S3 pupil Liana Storey who won both the Baroque Piano Solos and the Debussy and Ravel Piano Solos classes on Friday.  She then was invited to compete in the Piano Solos Premier Class which she also won.  Liana has now been invited to perform at the Last Night of the Festival and can compete for the Ailie Cullen Memorial Prize.  We wish her all the best on Saturday night.

Congratulations to a number of our pupils who recently achieved success in various competitions at the Junior Conservatoire.

Liana Storey S3 won the Gilbert Innes piano competition which is open to all pianists at the Junior Conservatoire.

Oboists Chris Vettraino S5 and Liana Storey S3 both were highly commended in the Gilbert Innes woodwind competition.

Guitarist Steven Clark S6 was highly commended in the LGMA guitar competition.

The National Youth Orchestra’s of Scotland Training Ensembles are designed for young players of around 8-14 (ABRSM Grade 3, as a guide only) to prepare them for entry into a NYOS orchestra. The 2017 summer courses will take place at the Kilgraston School, Perthshire and are specifically meant to identify, nurture and showcase musical excellence in children through orchestra training.
The summer course includes full and sectional rehearsals, individual coaching, social activities (sports, arts and crafts and orienteering), group workshops and an end-of-course, showcase concert, targeting at improving musical technique, listening skills, audition preparation and ability by tackling repertoire and exploring ensemble playing.
For more detailed information about the Training Ensemble courses this year please visit here:
If any students or parents wish to obtain an application pack, which includes information about the dates, fees and payment options please contact Orchestral Ensembles Manager Lauren Hamilton at laurenhamilton@nyos.co.uk or call 0141 332 8311.
Training applications for the summer course are running from 30 January to 28 April 2017 and student places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Congratulations to S2 pupil Cameron Black who is in the National Boys Choir Changed Voices Section this year.  Cameron received his full colour tie for this achievement.

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

S2 pupil:  Jamie King on bassoon

S4 pupil: Ciara O’Shea on cello

S5 pupils: Sophie Boyd, Pagan Ferry McKenzie and Lukas Nielsen on violin, Becky Paton on viola, Chris Vettraino on oboe

S6 pupil:  Andrew McCroskie on clarinet

WSSCB

S2 pupil:  Anna Ghiro on bassoon

S3 pupil:  Ben Drake on bassoon

S5 pupil:  Eilidh Galloway on clarinet

S6 pupil:  Eve Burgoyne on clarinet

S6 pupil: Gregor McInnes, Lorna Paton and Alec Ross on French horn

West String orchestra

S3 pupils:  Aalia Shah and Tom Simmonds on violin

S4 pupil:  Daisy Major on cello

Congratulations to the following pupils who have all got places this year in the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland:

NYOS Seniors

S2 pupils:  Anna Ghiro and Jamie King on bassoon

S3 pupil:  Ben Drake on bassoon

S4 pupil: Chloe Ghiro on violin

NYOS Juniors

S3 pupils:  Josef Heidinger on bassoon, Liana Storey on oboe, James A Ross on bassoon

S4 pupil:  Marianne Walker on violin

Congratulations to S4 pupil Lexy Letham who has gained a place in the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland on tenor drum.