MUSICAL talent from North Ayrshire’s secondary schools battled it out for the titles of North Ayrshire Young Singer of the Year and North Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year at Garnock Community Campus last week.

Winners from heats held across all nine of the area’s secondary schools gathered to compete for the coveted top spots, with Dr Gordon Munro, Director of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, acting as adjudicator on the night.

Violinist Scott Bryant of Kilwinning Academy was named Young Musician of the Year for his impressive renditions of Malaguena by Sarasate and Gigue by Bach. Runners up were percussionist Arran McMillan from Garnock Community Campus and pianist Ryan Lai from Greenwood Academy.

Winner of Young Singer of the Year was Maria McCann from St Matthew’s Academy, who sang Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim and Let Me Be Your Star by Marc Shaiman. Sophie Cotton from Largs Academy and Gillian Thorpe from Greenwood Academy took the runner up places. Provost Ian Clarkson said: “Yet again I was blown away by the standard of work exhibited by these young singers and musicians.

“Their level of commitment is evident in the quality of their performances, and every one of the finalists were a credit to themselves, their schools and their families.The talent of these young singers and musicians deserves high praise, along with the support of their families and the work of the teachers.”

The event was organised by NAC’s Music Services department and was sponsored by the Rhoda Reid Charitable Trust.