TALENTED young musicians from schools across East Ayrshire took part in a very special recital recently.

Eight pupils from the area were invited to put their hard work on show at the East Ayrshire Council music service’s first in-person performance for more than two years.

The East Ayrshire Young Musician Recital was a wonderful opportunity for the young people – who had all participated in the inaugural Scottish Young Musician competition, organised by the Music Education Partnership Group (Scotland) – to play to a live audience.

Due to the pandemic the competition, which took place earlier this year, had to take place online and was adjudicated by Alexander Davidson, music service manager from Moray Council. The standard was extremely competitive and Mr Davidson had a very difficult task selecting the winners.

Charmaine from The Robert Burns Academy and Katie from Doon Academy were runners-up in the East Ayrshire regional final, with Emily from Stewarton Academy winning the competition.

Emily represented East Ayrshire at the national final, held in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland last week.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths, the area’s head of education, said: “It was wonderful to attend the East Ayrshire Young Musician Recital and to hear the incredible talent of our young people.

“I heard almost all of our young performers and I know Mr Davidson had an incredibly difficult task selecting a winner.

“For musicians, there is nothing like performing to a live audience so the music service, led by Julie Carrie, leapt at the chance of holding a recital to give our young people the opportunity to show what they can do.

“I really enjoyed meeting our young people and congratulating them all.”