Success for Harris performers in Young Musician contest

The talents of young musicians from Sir E Scott school were recognised in the Western Isles Young Musician of the Year competition, which saw students from Harris compete across instrumental and singing categories at the event in Stornoway on November 14th and 15th.

Junior finalists from Harris

The Young Singer of the Year competition was held at the Nicolson Institute on the Friday evening, with instrumental competitions at Primary, Junior (S1-3) and Senior (S4 up) level taking place at Stornoway Primary School during the day. Category winners were then invited to perform at Lews Castle for the final on Saturday evening.

Saxophonist Darren Campbell (S5) won the Senior Woodwind Competition and was named Senior Young Musician of the Year. Anne-Marie MacLeod (S2) was the Junior Woodwind winner. Rosie Morrison and Heather MacDougall won the Junior Ensemble prize for their duet.

The overall winner was singer Zoe Leparoux, a Nicolson Institute pupil who will go on to represent the Western Isles at the national Young Musician competition.

On the same day as the young musician competition took place in Stornoway, pupils Fraser Laurie and Finlay Calum Riach represented Sir E Scott recently at the Lewis and Harris Junior Piping Society competition held in Harris.

As a result of his success at the competition, Fraser earned a place at the prestigious junior Donald MacLeod Competition, which will be held in April.