Pupils get Royal Conservatoire class
Musicians get tips from world class institute
West Lothian high school pupils have been going for gold by learning from leading performers and educators at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Youngsters from schools including James Young High, West Calder High, Armadale, Linlithgow, St Margaret’s, Deans and Bathgate academies took their marks for recent competitionthemed performances at Scotland’s national conservatoire in Glasgow.
Around 300 pupils from all over Scotland attended the outreach session at the Royal Conservatoire, ranked in the world’s top three for performing arts education and number one in Scotland for graduate employability.
Steven Gray, co- ordinator of instrumental music at West Lothian Council, said: “West Lothian pupils had a terrific afternoon at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
“For some of them, this was their first time visiting Scotland’s national conservatoire and they were inspired by the standard of playing on display.
“Events like this play such a major role in the development of young musicians – this concert will stay with them for a long time to come.”
Music from Leonard Bernstein’s score to West Side Story was used as the basis for the events, with big screens used to help tell the story behind the music.
Pupils were also treated to the Trumpet Olympics, the Post Horn Gallop by German cornet virtuoso Herman Koenig and John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme, written for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
John Logan, Head of Brass at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, added: “What a delight to welcome pupils from West Lothian to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
“These talented young adults are the future of the performing arts and it was a privilege to give them an insight into the diverse, multidisciplinary artistic hub that is Scotland’s national conservatoire.
“Learning to play a musical instrument helps develop skills which stand young people in good stead for the rest of their lives. I look forward to welcoming them back to the Royal Conservatoire as they continue on their path to performing excellence over the coming weeks and months.”
The outreach session comes as the Royal Conservatoire steps up preparations for its music summer schools, with short courses for young performers of all levels of experience aged from 10 upwards across music, dance, drama, production and film.
More information about courses at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is available by logging on to www.rcs. ac.uk/summer.