Pupils put music skills on display

Morrison’s Academy pupils took part in Perth Festival of the Arts on Tuesday.

They performed at a lunchtime concert in St John’s Kirk in the centre of Perth.

Sally Herbert, principal teacher of music, explained that the senior students were sitting exams and school trips were taking place so there would be no large groups or orchestras performing.

We were subsequently entertained by nine soloists and a quartet, who all did so very ably, treating us to an eclectic mix of music performed on a variety of instruments.

Sally advised us at the outset that the programme would have a meditative beginning, progressing to easy-going, jazzy pieces as it continued.

All the participants are currently in S2, apart from Rosie Stewart, S4, who ably displayed her skills on piano then violin.

Pieces ranged from ‘March Militaire’ by Schubert, played as the opening item on alto saxophone by Francesca Arblaster, to ‘Jumpin’ at the Woodside’, a composition by Count Basie, played by a quartet consisting of Francesca Albaster, again on alto saxophone, joined by Jessica McFarlane, Georgia Kay and David Downie, all playing trumpets.

Jessica McFarlane is also to be commended for her lovely solo, the second movement from ‘Sonata for Trumpet’ by Flors Peeters.

This was extremely musical playing that was enhanced by the wonderful acoustics of St John’s Kirk and she displayed some very good control of dynamic range and phrasing.

Other performers were Caitlin Lewis (voice), Zoe Burrowes (cello) and Katharine Bryce (violin), who all gave assured performances displaying potential for the future.

It will be interesting to see these young musicians returning in two or three years time.

All the youngsters were sympathetically accompanied on the piano by music teachers Sally Herbert and Susan Smart and, given the depleted forces that were available, it was indeed an admirable performance.