Highland young musician of the year.

The inaugural competition to find Highland Young Musician of the Year, will take place on Thursday 7th June at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.

Organised by the Council’s Instrumental Tuition Service, the competition is supported by The Highland Council and The Drumossie Hotel.

The competition is open to all those who are currently members of any of Highland Regional Instrumental Groups and it is hoped that this annual competition will become an icon for young players throughout the area.

This year’s entries are from all parts of the Highland Council Area and reflect the exceptional amount of talent amongst young musicians in the Highlands.

Competitors will perform one piece from a fifteen minute programme to a judging panel in the afternoon and from the total entry, nine performers will be chosen to play their complete recital in public that same evening.

Two judges will include Jennifer Martin, Learning Manager, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Pete Stollery, Head of Music at Aberdeen University. A third judge is yet to be confirmed.

The winner of the competition will receive not only a monetary award, but also in 2007 will become the first winner of the Richardson Trophy for Musical Excellence – generously gifted by Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Richardson.  Two additional monetary awards will also be awarded by the judges – one for the Runner-up and one for the Most Promising Talent, thanks to the generosity of “The Friends of Highland Young Musicians”.

The public final of the competition will take place in The Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Thursday 7th June at 7.30pm.  Tickets (£5) will be available on the evening or can be purchased in advance by telephoning 01349 868271.