Ben is the youngest member of the brass section of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and recently was runner up (highly commended) in the Gilbert Innes Prize for Brass at the Junior Conservatoire.  He is pictured here with his teacher Mr Blackwood.

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

Tuesday 10th March – bagpipes only

20, 21, 27 and 28th February plus 3 and 10th March for all other instruments

Congratulations to S5 pupil Ellie and S6 pupil Liana who won the vocal and instrumental sections of the Eastwood Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition last Thursday. Ellie’s accomplished vocal performance of Heart of Stone from Six the Musical and Whatever Happened To My Part from Spamalot mesmerised both the audience and adjudicators.  Then the breathtaking performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in C minor Op 48 No 1 on piano secured Liana first place in the instrumental section. Both students will now progress to the next round of the Rotary competition which is the West of Scotland round held in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 1st March 2020 – giving them the chance of progressing to the Scottish final and then the British Grand Final.

In November the Pupils from Williamwood’s Advanced Higher Music course performed to an appreciative audience at the weekly meeting of Netherlee’s Age Concern group in the Albertslund Hall, Newton Mearns.

Pupils hard work and dedication to their instrumental learning was exhibited in a variety of musical items, ranging from Liana’s breath-taking performance of Chopin’s Ballade in G minor, to Kanyembo, Josef, Sam and Ewan’s interpretation of a medley of Stevie Wonder classics. Members of the age concern group expressed enthusiasm for all pupil’s musical interpretations, while pupils were equally pleased to have shared their learning with such a welcoming audience.

Congratulations to the following pupils on their success in the winter diet of Associated Board examinations.

ABRSM

S1 pupils:  Sorcha Cook and Greta Lawson passed Grade 3 violin, Maya Hughes Grade 3 oboe with distinction, Anjali Pavri Grade 5 oboe with distinction

S3 pupil:  Zara Steven Grade 5 flute with merit

S4 pupil:  Libby Carmon Grade 5 cello 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.

Congratulations to the following pupils on gaining a place in one of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland:

Senior orchestra

S3 pupils:  Cameron Deverill on bassoon, Olivia Overend on oboe

Junior orchestra

S1 pupil:  Jamie Dickinson on cello

S2 pupil:  Leo Storey on trumpet

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

WSSSO

S1 pupil:  Jamie Dickinson on cello

S3 pupils:  Ben Dickinson on french horn, Olivia Overend on oboe

S4 pupil:  Andrew Keddie on percussion

S5 pupils:  Euan Coyle on double bass, James Ross on bassoon

S6 pupils:  Josef Heidinger on bassoon, Ewan Millar on percussion,  Tom Simmonds and George Weir on violin, Liana Storey on oboe

WSSCB

S1 pupil:  Jamie Dickinson on oboe

S6 pupils:  David Aiton on percussion  and Ben Drake on bassoon

String Orchestra

S1 pupil: Sorcha Cook and Greta Lawson on violin

Training Band

S1 pupil:  Grace Noble on clarinet

S2 pupils:  Conor O’Shea on clarinet

S4 pupil:  Kirsten Ross on flute

Congratulations to S3 pupil Imogen Maher who is in the NYCOS National Girls Choir for 2020.

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

Under 13 orchestra

S1 pupils:  Jamie Dickinson on oboe and Max Docherty on bassoon

S2 pupil:  Reuben Clark on bassoon

Under 12 orchestra

S1 pupil: Anjali Pavri on oboe

We are delighted that again this year two of our pupils have secured places in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.  Ben Dickinson (S3) on french horn and Anna Ghiro (S5) on bassoon.