Highland Young Musicians end year on a high note

After a weekend of intensive rehearsals and performance, five of Highland’s most talented young musicians took part in the annual Highland Young Musician of the Year competition.  The judge’s decision awarded violinist Emma Donald from Dingwall Academy the top prize and Richardson Trophy for Musical Excellence with Millburn Academy’s Hector Waudby-West being placed as runner-up for his performance on the double bass.  The ‘Most Promising Talent’ award was given to Peter Thornton, a trombone playing pupil also from Dingwall Academy.

During the prize giving ceremony The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton paid tribute to the dedication of the performers and acknowledged the support of all those involved in supporting their musical education and development.  The event was held at, and generously sponsored by, The Drumossie Hotel, Inverness with support from The Highland Council and Friends of Highland Young Musicians.  Norman also thanked the judges for creating a relaxed and supportive atmosphere throughout the day, an important element of this particular competition.

The judges were Dr. Pete Stollery, Head of Music at Aberdeen University, Jennifer Martin, composer and freelance music educator and Adam Mackenzie originally from Tain who is now Director of Education with the English Sinfonia and freelance Bassoonist.  In their closing remarks, they commented on how impressed they had been at the high standard of musicianship shown by all the participants throughout the day.

Friends of Highland Young Musicians         

Scottish Charity No. 28106

supporting:       Highland Regional Youth Orchestra                               ‘snas

                                   Highland Youth Big Band        Highland Youth String Orchestra

                        Highland Schools Wind Band                Highland Youth Pipe Band

                                    Còisir G                       Highland Youth Choir                           

For your information:

Friends Committee – letter to The Highland Council & Elected Members

As part of its budget consultation, the Highland Council is to “seek views from the public and other stakeholders” on the “delivery of music tuition and region wide music support” with an indicative saving of “£0.599m”.

The Committee of the Friends of Highland Young Musicians has deliberated long and hard on the issue of these proposals. The Committee believes that if such cuts were to be implemented, they would have a devastating affect on nearly 3000 pupils in schools throughout the Highlands, currently benefiting from Music Tuition. However, it is not just the individual pupil, and the young pupils who will follow in their footsteps, who will suffer as a result of loss of music tuition, but the whole Highland area.

At present we have a Music Service to be extremely proud of. The Music Groups that provide pupils with opportunities to participate in a range of musical styles is a vital part of the commitment of the Council to making the Highlands a good place for young people. It is also a very public demonstration of its success.

Each Year the 8 Region-wide Music Groups that our Committee helps to support give outstanding concerts in venues throughout the Highlands and further afield. Last year’s sell-out Gala Concert at Eden Court with its fantastic repertoire of musical genres was regarded as one of the cultural highlights of the year. Concerts have also been held recently in Fort William, Aviemore, Nairn, Alness and Fortrose. Each concert has sold out, with audiences delighted and uplifted by the quality and variety of the music. Many have commented on being moved and inspired by seeing the young people of Highland demonstrating the results of hard work, commitment and working with others. The pupils are a shining of example of how these qualities pay off and how life-enhancing participation in musical activity is. There are many studies that prove the link between involvement in music and increased success in other academic areas. Many of the young musicians go on to study music in the best institutions in the UK, and only last month one Dingwall pupil was asked to play with Nicola Benedetti when she came to Inverness. Highland can also feel proud of its young musicians who continue to be an example of the rich cultural education they have received in Highland Schools.

The pupils in Highland schools are supported by a team of devoted Instrument Instructors, who nurture the individual talent of their pupils and support their ensemble playing skills through a system of school and Area Music Groups and the Regional Music Groups as a further extension to local activities. These local activities also have a very positive impact on schools groups and local communities. A strong case could be made for extending that local provision as there are schools and pupils who would benefit from more musical activity, but we recognise that this is not the time for expansion. We would though, strongly urge Councillors to help retain the current activities by listening to our suggestions and to please not make such savage cuts as have been proposed. 

We recognise that the Council is required to make very difficult decisions to make the cuts that they are forced to make. We know that many Elected Members will greatly regret the amount that has been proposed as a cut against the Music Tuition Service and its associated activities, especially as there has been such overwhelming support for the retention of substantial Music funding by the public.

We would like to ask Elected Members, Council Officers as well as Parents and Carers, to play a part in ensuring that this vital service is maintained. We would ask Elected Members to reconsider the amount by which they propose to cut Music budgets; Council Officers to restructure activities and services to save and make better use of budgets, with reduced expenditure; and for Parents and Carers to agree to a phased increase in tuition fees to raise income.

Clearly, time will need to be spent by those with responsibility for the budget working out the sums exactly and consulting where necessary, but as a Committee we believe the right balance can be found. If we all work together on this, Highland pupils and Highland residents can continue to benefit from the enormous value offered by our exemplary music provision.

The Committee of the Friends of Highland Young Musicians would urge members of the Friends of Highland Young Musicians, parents and carers and the wider community to make their views known by participating in the Council’s budget consultation by e-mail or in writing; and attending local Ward Forum meetings and by making appropriate representations.

Yours sincerely

Lizzie Macdougall

Chairperson