The Inverclyde Schools’ Junior Wind Orchestra, led by conductor  Victoria Douglas started their day bright and early on Saturday morning, with a final rehearsal ahead of their performance at the final of the Scottish Concert Band Festival, at Perth Concert Hall. Perth Concert Hall has welcomed many world renowned artists, such as Noel Gallagher, Michael Buble and the London Symphony Orchestra, so it was safe to say the JWO were more than thrilled to be taking to a stage that so many famous faces have performed on. It was all systems go as everyone raced to get on the bus- everybody just could not wait to get to Perth!

Notre Dame pupils Eilidh and Bramble, S2, Mia Lena, S3, and Ava, S4 were among the group of young performers just raring to get on stage. Eilidh, after being asked what her favourite thing about playing as part of the Junior Wind Orchestra was, remarked “It was fun and I like playing flute”.  Each Notre Dame band member is part of a different section in the orchestra, they all play different instruments with Eilidh on flute, Mia Lena on clarinet, Ava on saxophone, and Bramble on trumpet, and they all play as part of Notre Dame’s own award winning school orchestra.

Nerves and emotions were running high as the Orchestra were ushered into the warm up room- their final destination before the stage! A quick go-over of some tricky spots in the music ensured everyone was confident and in the right mindspace for performance and the stage. The Wind Orchestra played their three pieces, Armada, Defying Gravity and African Adventure impressively and impeccably, receiving helpful feedback from the adjudicators and taking home a gold award! After the performance the Junior Wind Orchestra was exhausted, and although everyone would be reluctant to admit it, after their performance to remember, they were all glad to head back home!