Glasgow Music Festival success for Lanarkshire schools

Apr 1 2010 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

Glasgow Music Festival success for Lanarkshire schools.

SOUTH Lanarkshire Authority Schools Big Band were crowned winners of the Festival Jazz Band Class, at the Glasgow Music Festival last month.

The band, under the direction of Michael Brawley aided by Stuart Pollock, were awarded the Southside Brass Trophy for outstanding performance.

Secondary schools from the area also gained success.

Larkhall Academy’s Concert Band, under the direction of Chris Bradley, won the Festival Concert Band class for a remarkable fourth consecutive year.

Uddingston Grammar School Guitar Ensemble won the Fretted Instrument Class, closely followed by Larkhall Academy’s Guitar Ensemble who took second place. Both Ensembles are directed by Paul Adams.

Larkhall Academy Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Graeme Barclay, were second in the Music Making Class, with Uddingston Grammar’s Ensemble fourth.

Uddingston Grammar School String Orchestra, conducted by Gary McBretney was placed second in the String Orchestra class. Hamilton Grammar School Choir and Vocal Ensemble, directed by Audrey McKirdy, were awarded third place in their classes.

Graeme Barclay, South Lanarkshire’s assistant head of service for music, said: “The Glasgow Music Festival is now one of Britain’s largest competitive expressive arts festivals. We are immensely proud of all our authority musical representation at this year’s event and pupils deserve praise.

“Our tremendous success highlights that South Lanarkshire youngsters are setting benchmark standards nationally for instrumental music and singing.”