Scottish Young Musicians are running two new competitions to discover and bring out the best in young musicians.
These competitions give school students the chance to achieve their ambitions through their talent in music, develop their life skills and have fun. There are school and local authority competitions leading to national finals and open to every school student that sings or plays an instrument.
Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year
Everyone who’s learning to sing or play an instrument in a school in Scotland can take part.
The process of selecting a winner to go through to the Solo Performer of the Year final may happen differently in each local authority, most likely to involve competitions running in each secondary school or local authority. There will be a finalist chosen from those attending independent schools through their own competitions. If in doubt about how it will work in your school, please ask your music teacher or instructor.
There is no minimum age or standard. The taking part is the important bit. At the higher levels of the competitions, you will be competing with some of the best young musicians in Scotland. So, you’d expect the standard to be high but don’t let that put you off!
The first Solo Performer of the Year final will be held in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 29th May 2022 and will be judged by adjudicators with an international reputation. The finalists and their parent or carer will receive travel expenses and accommodation if required.
In the final you will perform on stage on your own or with an accompanist who will be provided, or you can bring your own. If you require a different kind of accompaniment (e.g. a backing track) please let us know in advance so that we can be prepared. Finalists will be invited to perform a programme of their choice lasting no more than 8 minutes. The final will be a national event so expect there to be some publicity where you may be filmed, recorded, or photographed.
Click here on how to enter the Solo Performer of the Year
Scottish Young Musicians Brass Ensemble of the Year
The Brass Ensemble of the Year is an online music competition open to ensembles of up to 10 players (aged 18 and under) who play together regularly in school or in their local youth brass band. There will also be an ensemble chosen from those attending independent schools. If in doubt about how it will work in your school or band, please ask your music teacher or instructor.
Ensembles should play a programme of two contrasting pieces lasting no longer than 10 minutes in total. The performance should be an unedited video with all participants playing in one venue at the same time. Each local authority, independent schools and bands can only submit one entry, but we would encourage each group to have their own competitions to select their final entry.
Closing date for entries is 25th March 2022 with results being announced on 25th of April 2022.
Click here if you are a band leader or local authority manager and you want to enter an ensemble.
The winning ensemble will get an all-expenses paid trip to play a prime slot at the Performer of the Year final on Sunday 29th May at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.