TRADITIONAL musicians from all over the local area took part in the North Ayrshire Traditional Musician of the Year competition last week.

The event, organised by North Ayrshire Council’s Music Service and supported by the Rhona Reid Charitable Trust, was hosted by Irvine Burns Club.

Pupils who were at a suitable level of playing were invited to compete in two sections – an intermediate section for S1 to S3 pupils and a senior section for S4 to S6 players.

The intermediate section was won by Bethany Walsh, from Arran High School, on fiddle with ‘Lament for the Death of Reverend Archie Beaton’, ‘The Bannockburn Reel’ and ‘Spootiskerry’. Runner up was Ben Cotter, from Kilwinning Academy, on clarsach.

The eight senior finalists in order of performance were William McLaughlin, from Irvine Royal Academy (Highland bagpipes), Jemma Stirling, from Irvine Royal Academy (fiddle), Fraser Blain, from Arran High School (fiddle), Christopher Rimicans, from St Matthews Academy (Highland bagpipes), Jessica Thorpe, from Greenwood Academy (fiddle), Sarah Mooney,from St Matthew’s Academy (fiddle), Scott Figgans, from Greenwood Academy (Highland bagpipes) and Danielle Sloan, from Irvine Royal Academy (fiddle).

William McLaughlin won the senior title with a selection of jigs, airs, Strathspeys and reels. The senior runner up was Jemma Stirling.

The evening was adjudicated by musician and composer Mike Vass – a past winner of Composer of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

Mike congratulated all finalists on the standard of their performances and Provost Joan Sturgeon presented the winners and runners up with a commissioned glass trophy.