Inverness Music Festival ends on a high
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MUSIC lovers enjoyed a host of outstanding performances at the latest outing for an event showcasing young Highland talent.
This year’s Inverness Music Festival concluded on Wednesday with the grand finale Premier Competition.
Chairwoman Jean Slater said the musical skill on show this year had been exceptional.
“We’ve had an excellent standard of talent,” she said. “I know the adjudicators are very pleased with the standards which are taught in Highland schools.”
Dozens of young musicians from across the region won prizes, including Cannich Bridge Primary School which won the primary choir competition and Cradlehall Primary which won the preformed song category.
Another exceptional talent was Alexander Scott-Brown (17), from Inverness, who won the festival’s ultimate prize, the Curtis Craig Memorial Trophy, for the second year running.
He won for an outstanding cello performance that had already seen him clock up a perfect 100 per cent score in the earlier open strings event.
Angus Scott-Brown, Alexander’s father, said he was very proud of his son’s achievement.
“We were quite amazed when we heard the result,” he said. “Although Bernie Docherty, the adjudicator, had been quite generous in his marking, he commented himself that he was in the old school that does not feel comfortable giving a score of 100 per cent, but at the same time, he believes that you should only deduct points if you can explain why.”
Inverness area winners:
Brass and Woodwind:
Brass Solo Grade 3-4: Tom Burnett, Abriachan
Brass Solo Grade 5-6: Sam Burnett, Abriachan
Woodwind Solo Grade 5-6: William Hodi, Auldearn
Ensembles/ Strings:
Classical Ensemble Primary: Freya Hametty, Carla Stewart and Graeme Buist, Drakies Primary School
Piano:
Beginners: Niamh Dooley, Inverness Music School
Grade 2: Aoibhe Doorley, Inverness Music School; Megan Playle, Drumnadrochit
Grade 4: Alfie Chalmers and Emily Tan, Inverness
Grade 5: Beth Hewick, Inverness
Grade 6-7: Sophie Hazel, North Kessock
Piano Duet Elementary: Grace Brown and Sophie Morrison, Inverness
Piano Duet Intermediate: Sam and Kirsten Burnett, Abriachan
Piano Duet Advanced: Ruth McKenzie and Roslyn Burnett, Inverness
Speech:
Debate Challenge: Millie and Erin Beach, Glenurquhart High School
Solo Verse Speaking P1-3: Benjamin Fraser, Farr Primary School
Group Verse Speaking P1-3: P3G, Cradlehall Primary School
Group Verse Speaking Mixed Primary: P3/4S, Cradlehall Primary School
Group Verse Speaking P4-7: P4, Smithton Primary School
Solo Verse Speaking S1-3: Catherine Hart, Glenurquhart High School
Public Speaking S1-S3: Cami Price, Eric Robinson and Ellie Macleod, Glenurquhart High School
Group Verse Secondary: The Ductyls, Glenurquhart High School
Public Speaking S4-S6: Rosie Giltings, Charleston Academy
Strings:
Viola Beginners: Kieran Wood, Dalneigh Primary School
Viola Grade 3: Alastair Gordon and Beth Hewick, Millburn Academy
Viola Grade 4-5: Jamie Kamphan, Inverness High School
Violin Beginners: Erica Cload, Inshes Primary School
Violin Grade 1-2: Struan Horsbrugh, Milton of Leys Primary School
Violin Grade 3: Nuala Parker, Inverness
Violin Grade 4-5: Kirstin Burnett, Abriachan
Cello Beginners: Amber McQuade, Dalneigh Primary School
Cello Grade 1-2: Isla Walker, Millburn Academy
Orchestras/ Open Strings:
Orchestras Intermediate: Inverness Schools String Orchestra Seniors
Open Strings Competition: Sandy Scott-Brown, Inverness
Traditional Vocal/ Clarsach:
Clarsach Intermediate: Isabella Somerville, Inverness
Traditional Vocal Primary: Comall Kernahan, Inverness
Traditional Vocal Open: Ian M Douglas, Nairn
Chanter and Piping:
Chanter 10 years and under: Grace Kerman, Inverness
Chanter 11 years and under: Maili Maclennan, Inverness
Chanter 12 years and under: Niall Bolger, Beauly
Novice Piping 13 years and under: Charles Maclennan, Inverness
Piobaireachd 15 years and under: Calum Dunbar, Inverness
Piobaireachd 18 years and under: Hamish Drennan, Drumnadrochit
Fiddle:
Intermediate: Ruaraidh Drennan, Drumnadrochit
Piping Adjudicator:
Jig 18 years and under: Calum Dunbar, Inverness
Scottish Traditional Music:
Fiddle Open: Kate Macleod, Inverness
Secondary Bands: Clava, Inverness
Open Scottish Trad Bands: Inverness Clarsachs
Celtic arrangement/ original: Clava and Cairdean, Inverness
Scottish Traditional Performance Solo:
Isabella Somerville, Inverness
School Performances:
Choirs P4-7: Cannich Bridge Primary School
Choirs Mixed Primary Ages: P1-7 Stratherrick Primary School
Pre-school Performed Song: Tamnacross Nursery, Kiltarlity
P1-3 Performed Song: Cradlehall Primary School, Inverness
School Choirs:
Primary Choirs P1-3: Milton of Leys Primary School, Inverness
School Performances:
Performed Song P4-7: P6 Kinmylies Primary School, Inverness
Performed Song Primary Mixed: Balnain Primary School, Inverness
Adult Vocal:
Contemporary: Ian M Douglas, Nairn
Duet: Ian M Douglas and Iain Gordon
Choirs:
Open Choir: Ardersier Forte
Orchestras:
Advanced: Millburn Academy String Orchestra
Vocal:
Primary Vocal Solo: Leah Macdonald and Rachael McGorm, Cauldeen Primary School
Premier Competition:
The Curtis Craig Memorial Trophy: Sandy Scott-Brown, Inverness
