Celebrating Outstanding Talent at the 2026 Scottish Young Musicians Glasgow Competition
Over two inspiring days of music-making, young performers from across the city showcased exceptional skill, dedication and artistry at the Glasgow heat of the Scottish Young Musicians Competition 2026. The standard this year was truly outstanding, with performers demonstrating remarkable musical maturity, confidence and expressive depth.
Primary Competition
We were delighted to begin with our Primary Competition, where young musicians impressed both audience and adjudicators alike.
🏆 Primary Winner
Eason Wei (P4) from St Patrick’s Primary School delivered a poised and beautifully musical performance of Concertino in G Major by Mozart on violin, showing remarkable control and expressive understanding well beyond his years.
👏 Primary Runners Up
- Beth McAlaney (P7) from Govan Gaelic Primary School captivated listeners with a lively performance of the jig Only for Barney followed by the Liz Carroll reel Sevens.
- Ben Streete (P7) from Pollokshields Primary School impressed with a confident and characterful rendition of Gypsy Songs by József Balogh on saxophone.
Secondary Instrumental Competition
The Secondary Instrumental Competition continued the exceptionally high standard of performance.
🏆 Instrumental Winner & Overall Glasgow Schools’ Young Musician 2026
Cheryl Xu (S6) from Hyndland Secondary School delivered a deeply expressive performance of Fauré’s Élégie on cello. Cheryl was subsequently named overall winner of Glasgow Schools’ Young Musician 2026.
👏 Instrumental Runner Up
Ruslan Pankov (S6) from King’s Park Secondary School impressed with a technically assured performance of Étude No. 24, Op. 60 by Matteo Carcassi on classical guitar.
Secondary Vocal Competition
The Secondary Vocal Competition brought the event to a thrilling conclusion.
🏆 Vocal Winner
Ruby Kerr (S5) from St Andrew’s Secondary School performed Heart of Stone from SIX: The Musical (Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss) with powerful stage presence and vocal control.
👏 Vocal Runner Up
Finlay Morrison (S6) from Ard-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu delighted the audience with an energetic and engaging set of traditional Puirt-a-beul.
Looking Ahead
As overall winner, Cheryl Xu will now represent Glasgow at the Scottish Young Musicians National Final, taking place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May 2026.
We extend our warmest congratulations to every young musician who took part. The talent, commitment and passion demonstrated across both days is a true celebration of music-making in Glasgow’s schools.
