The evening percussion programme features a series of solo performances by secondary school pupils from Perthshire schools across a range of instruments, including marimba, drum kit, timpani, snare drum, and xylophone. Repertoire ranges from contemporary percussion works and technical studies to arrangements of popular music by bands such as Oasis and The Black Keys, as well as classical pieces like Strauss’s Radetsky March.
Classes are organised by instrument and graded level (Level 4, Level 5, Advanced, and Open), allowing performers to demonstrate both technical skill and musical interpretation. Competitors represent schools including Perth High School, Blairgowrie High School, St John’s RC Academy, Bertha Park High School, Kinross High School, Morrison’s Academy, and The Community School of Auchterarder.
The programme concludes with advanced and open drum kit solos, showcasing some of the evening’s most technically demanding performances.
Overall, the session highlights the breadth of percussion talent among local students, from emerging performers to advanced players.
Results
In the Drum Kit Solo (Level 3) class, Alexander Allan of Bertha Park High School took first place with an excellent score of 86, narrowly ahead of Oliver Marwick of Kinross High School on 85. Nuala Maclennan of Perth Academy and Gregor Robertson of Perth High School shared third place with 83 marks each.
In the Snare Drum Solo (Level 2) class, Oliver Marwick (Kinross High School) secured another success, winning with 86, ahead of Hannah McIntyre of Perth Grammar School on 76 and Jasmine Ferguson of Bertha Park with 73.
The Snare Drum Solo (Level 3) class was won by Andrew Thompson of Kinross High School with 84, followed closely by Emily White of Perth Grammar School on 83, and Luke Robertson of Bertha Park High School on 82.
In tuned percussion, Max Rutherford of Kinross High School won the Xylophone Solo (Level 3) class with 76, just ahead of Joseph Denholm of The Community School of Auchterarder on 75.
In the Timpani Solo (Level 3) class, Andrew Thompson (Kinross High School) continued his strong showing with a winning score of 79, followed by Hugo Flinn, also of Kinross High School, with 74. In Timpani Solo (Level 4), Orlaith Lindsay-Dorward of St John’s RC Academy achieved 79.