DG's Travels Week 39

The end of week 39 saw another flurry of activity. First up was the inaugural final of our District Young Musician Competition. Following local selection events, eight young people moved forward to the Final at Strathallan School, a wonderful location for any such occasion. Ably supported by their sponsoring Rotary Clubs of Perth St. Johns, Inverurie, Alford & District, Bridge of Allan & Dunblane, Crieff, Oldmeldrum, Auchterarder & District and Banchory-Ternan, the young people put on a superb display of their abilities. Judging was extremely difficult, given the range of instruments of trombone, Scots fiddle,alto saxophone, piano, cello, accordion, tenor saxophone and violin. We were most fortunate to have as adjudicators, the very experienced Henry Neil, MBE, and Peter Rutterford. I was happy to sit quietly with them and nod knowledgeably when it seemed appropriate.
In the end every competition has to have a winner, but I felt that every participant was a winner in appearing in front of such a discerning audience and acquiting themselves so ably. We are most fortunate to have two superb trophies, one each for the boys and girls, presented by Past District Governor Bill Leslie and his wife, Mary, Past Chairman of Inner Wheel District 1, both of whom have a great enthusiasm for young people's music. I am enormously grateful for their support. The girl's trophy was won by Zoe Yuile from the Banchory-Ternan Club and the boy's by Andrew McLean from the Bridge of Allan & Dunblane Club. I hope that this is just the start of what will become a major event in District 1010, with as many Clubs as possible participating. We have wonderful musical traditions in Scotland and I would love to see these being highlighted not just at the District level but on to the RIBI finals in London. My thanks also go to all the Clubs which participated, to the many supporters who came along to the final, to those who supported the young people as accompanists and most important of all, to Michael Jamieson and his committee of Cath Chorley and Brian Raine who organised the competition. I enjoyed the occasion enormously as I am sure did everyone present.