Kirkcudbright Academy Young Musicians Shine

Last Thursday, the 28^th April, Kirkcudbright Academy, working with Kirkcudbright Rotary Club, staged the annual Young Musician competition. Organised and led by Kirkcudbright Academy music teachers Hannah Gill and Emma Irving, the competition attracted twenty one young people from S1’s through to S6’s.

The competition was divided into three categories, namely the Junior Young Musician, the Senior Singer and the Senior Instrumentalist. A trophy, a cash prize and a Rotary certificate were presented to each of the winners in each category by Rotary President Andy Courtnadge. Cash prizes and certificates were also awarded to the young musicians who finished 2^nd and 3^rd in each category.

A wide variety of instruments and a mixture of songs and styles made for an evening of enjoyment and delight. Judges for the evening were music teachers Jamie Brand and Georgina Pryde-Firmin from Annan Academy. They too expressed their astonishment at the quality of the musical performances and, in speaking to the captivated audience of teachers, parents, friends and Rotarians, they expressed their amazement at just how much had been achieved, post Covid, in so little time.

Rotarian Youth Service Convenor Paul Tebay responded to this by praising the work done by Hannah and Emma and congratulating all the students who participated on their assured and talented performances.

The audience was clearly deighted by all that they had witnessed and they expressed their delight to be part of a live audience for the first time in over two years. The evening finished with a collection of donations to help Ukrainian refugees which raised a fantastic £250.

Junior Musician

3rd: Beth Hutchison

2nd: Thomas D’Haen

1st: Ben Hodson

Senior Singer