Shetland-Music.com

Shetland's two young musicians of the year are a alto sax player from Aith Junior High School and a violinist from Lerwick's Anderson High School.

In a prestigeous competition held in Lerwick's Town Hall on Thursday 22nd March, Norman Willmore from Aith, playing the alto sax, triumphed in the junior section, open to musicians of primary school age, while in the senior section (open to secondary pupils) violinist Maggie Adamson, who attends Lerwick's Anderson High School, took top honours.

In the final an outwardy relaxed Norman came up against six other worthy finalists from all over the islands. The finalists played a variety of instruments such as piano, violin, cello, accordion and recorder, adding to an already difficult job for the event adjudicator Mr Walter Blair.

Norman's set consisted of 'Spanish Love Song' (anon) and Gumbley's 'Bebop Bounce'. The adjucator praised the performance, making special mention of Norman's phrasing and breath control. "Brilliant" was Norman's only reaction when the announcement was made, although it was clear that winning the coveted title meant a great deal to the proud young man from the westside of Shetland

One notable element of the junior final came via young accordionist Callum Nicolson who, during his set, performed a waltz he had written himself - at age 11.

"One to watch" is a label all too readily applied to many young musicians, but surely this phrase can safely be attached to Maggie Adamson from Fladdabister, who picked up the somewhat ambigious title of 'Senior Young Musician of the Year' crown at her third attempt.

At just fourteen Maggie is already an experienced and confident performer, as her winning performance in the 2007 final clearly demonstrated. In what the adjudicator termed "a stunning technical display" Maggie showed that she is every bit as accomplished on the classical violin as she is on the traditional fiddle.

Playing 'Spring' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons suite and Willen Ten Have's 'Allegro Brilliant' Maggie swept to victory over five other terrific young musicians, again hailing from all over Shetland. Had she been nervous? "I never get nervous" was her confident reply and somehow you simply did not doubt her word.

For the first time since the competiton commenced there were no piano players in this years final, with featured instruments being violin (2), cello, alto sax and vocals (2).

The adjudicator assured the audience that it had been a very close final. None of the 100 strong audience were surprised at such a statement, given the overall quality of the performances, with Erin Sandison (15) from Scalloway another stand-out for her vocal prowess on Sondheim's 'Send in the Clowns' and Rogers 'Johnny One Note'.

The Schools Music Festival, of which the Young Musician of the Year competition is just one part, comes to a close on Friday 23rd March with a gala concert in Lerwick's Clickimin Centre, where the winning finalists will get another opportunity to perform their winning sets.