Almost 300 young Ayrshire musicians had the opportunity to create a virtual performance in a bid to win the coveted title of Ayrshire Music Performer 2021.
With the cancellation of both the Ayrshire Music Festival and Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Young Musician Competition, Rotary in Alloway decided to organise a virtual alternative.
The competition received unanimous, enthusiastic support from the Ayrshire Music Festival, Instrumental Music Services of North, South and East Ayrshire Councils and music teachers throughout the county.
With a panel of six independent and renowned adjudicators out with Ayrshire, 21 initial first prize winners were selected, each receiving a certificate and a £20 voucher.
These musicians were then judged by the celebrated John Wallace CBE, former Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Trumpeter Extraordinaire, to arrive finally at the Ayrshire Music Performer 2021.
And winning a certificate and £100 voucher was Thomas Chan, a pupil at Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn, who won both the Piano and Violin S4-S6 Section.
Such was the high standard of the video performances that John nominated Evie Scott Galli, a pupil at Wellington School, Ayr, the overall Winner of the S1-S3 Sections and Emma Mathie, a pupil from Alloway Primary School, the overall winner of the primary sections.
A YouTube presentation featuring the winner and some of the runners-up will appear soon.
A Rotary spokesperson said: "The excitement of the performers and warm praise from teachers and parents has left the possibility that this Rotary in Alloway venture might be repeated and become an annual feature of young music making in Ayrshire."
Ayrshire Music Performer 2021 prize winners: (Upper Strings Primary): 1st: Emma Mathie, Alloway PS; 2nd- Lucy Assur, Alloway PS; 3= Jenna Kelly, Glenburn PS; David Ness, Wellington PS.
S1-S3: 1st- Cara McConville, Stewarton Academy; 2nd - Rosie Wallbanks, Prestwick Academy; 3rd - Niamh Milne, St Matthew's Academy.
S4–S6: 1st - Thomas Chan, Greenwood Academy; 2nd - Jonathan Assur, Kyle Academy, Drew Seville, Kyle Academy; Ross Bryant, Killwinning Academy; 3rd - Charlotte Johnston, Greenwood Academy; Molly Wallbanks, Prestwick Academy.
Cello/Bass: (Primary) 1st - Charlotte McCulloch, Doonfoot PS; 2nd - Blair Rorison, Struthers PS; (S1–S3) 1st - Iona Priestnall, Prestwick Academy; 2nd - Stuart Anderson, Kilmarnock Academy; (S4–S6) 1st- Christina McGillion, Ardrossan Academy; 2nd- Matthew Gordon, Belmont Academy.
Brass (Primary winner); Aimee McDermott, Gardenrose PS, Maybole. (S1–S3): Joint 1st- Charlie Boax, Grange Academy; Luke Parkhill, Belmont Academy. (S4–S6)- Tilly Abramson, Kyle Academy.
Piano (Primary); 1st- Leon Colvin, Doonfoot PS; 2nd– Anna Hogg, St Patrick’s PS; 3rd– Louis Shek, St Luke’s PS. (S1–S3) 1st- Shreyas Parkhi, Belmont Academy; 2nd- Sarah Mason, Wellington; 3rd- Stewart Wilkie, Stewarton Academy. (S4–S6) 1st- Thomas Chan, Greenwood Academy; 2nd- Yiming Sun, Wellington; 3rd- Naomi Priestnall, Prestwick Academy.
Piping (S1–S3): Leesa Dunwoodie, Caledonian Piping Club, (S4–S6)- Andrew Pattison, Marr College.
Vocal (Primary)- 1st Anna Hogg, St Patrick’s PS; 2nd- Jessica Ewer, Wellington; 3rd- Emilla Ewer, Wellington. (S1–S3) 1st- Evie Scott Galli, Wellington; 2nd- Katie Ronnie, Wellington; 3rd- Tess Donnelly, Marr College.
Woodwind (Primary)- 1st- Lucy Assur, Alloway PS; 2nd- Agatha Ludkin-Finnie, Alloway PS; 3rd- Emma Mathie, Alloway PS. (S1–S3)- 1st– Maria Ludkin-Finnie, Belmont Academy; 2nd- Colin Paterson, Belmont Academy; 3rd- Heather McLeod, Queen Margaret Academy. (S4–S6)- 1st- Ross Houston, Prestwick Academy; 2nd- Aaron Glendinning, Belmont Academy; 3rd- Aidan Fowler, Belmont Academy.
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