Senior pupils from Meldrum Academy perform a mainly classical programme with some contemporary music, featuring soloists on flute, clarinet, oboe, voice, piano and bandura.
Programme
Meldrum Academy is one of seventeen secondary schools in Aberdeenshire, situated in the town of Oldmeldrum. The current school roll is 982.
The Performing Arts Faculty is Linda Moggach (Principal Teacher - Music), Russell Fraser (Music), Jamie Murray (Music), and John Paterson (Drama). Within the faculty, pupils can study Music, Music Technology, and Drama. The faculty has support from nine Aberdeenshire Instrumental Music staff who visit the school on a weekly basis to provide free tuition. They are as follows: Andrew Gray (Bagpipes), Brodie McCash (Percussion), Dawn Smith (piano), Fabrizio Oddo (Brass), Hannah Hilton (Woodwind), Kat Gillies (Lower Strings), Nicky Gibson (Pipe Band Snare Drum) Paul Holroyd (Guitar), and Zoë Davidson (Upper Strings).
The school is extremely proud of its musicians and there are many extracurricular groups that meet and rehearse on a weekly basis: Orchestra, Concert Band, Fiddlestix, Pipe Band, Junior Vocal Group, Senior Vocal Group, Guitar Ensemble, String Ensemble, Ukulele Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Pupil-led Rock Groups, and Drama Club. At present there are over 130 pupils taking part in these ensembles.
Each year the faculty stage a Christmas and Summer Concert, a Live Lounge at The Barn at Barra Castle (to showcase popular music) and an Expressive Arts Showcase (to showcase classical and traditional music as well as Art, Design, Drama, and Music Technology pupils). As well as performances in school, many groups perform at community events. Some of which include the Pipe Band, Fiddlestix, Remastered and Modern Yesterday performed at ‘Apple Sunday’ in Pitmedden Garden. The Pipe Band played at Eat on the Green as part of the ‘Provenance Festival’. String players worked in partnership with McOpera and Haddo Arts Trust and performed in Haddo Arts Festival as part of ‘Song for Haddo’. Musicians will return to Haddo House on the 25th of June to take part in ‘Come and Sing a Song for Haddo’ in partnership once again with McOpera and Haddo Arts. Contemporary musicians and the Vocal Group performed at ‘A Taste of Winter’ food festival at Barra Castle. The Concert Band, Choir, and Rock Bands Remastered and Modern Yesterday provided music for switching on the Christmas Lights in Oldmeldrum. String and Wind Ensembles and the Vocal Group visited Westbank Care Home and Kellockbank Garden Centre to provide Christmas Music. Musicians worked in partnership with HM Band of the Royal Marines Scotland to perform a concert of music at Meldrum Academy in June 2022. The Royal Marines are returning to Meldrum on the 27th June. Earlier in May the Pipe Band and Remastered performed at the ‘King’s Coronation Afternoon Tea’ in Oldmeldrum. Meldrum Academy Pipe Band recently travelled to Kilmarnock to compete in the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships and were placed 5th in a very competitive Debut Grade. This was the first time the Pipe Band had entered a competition and were the only Aberdeenshire school represented.
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The Musicians
Olivia Kemp: Flute: Allegro Moderato (Bon di Venezia)
Eilidh Craig: Voice: Wiegenlied (Brahms)
Ananya Dick: Piano: Novelette in E minor (Poulenc)
Eilidh Bain: Flute: Sun Streams (Clarke)
Alisa Anhel: Bandura: Чакона (Handel)
Linden Stewart: Piano: New Kid (Norton)
Olwenn Stewart: Flute: Waltz No.4 from Suite Antique (Rutter)
Harry Jackson: Clarinet: Prelude from The Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite (Reade)
Ramsay Tough: Piano: Bad (Jackson)
Lillian King: Voice: L'ho Perduta from The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)
Olwenn Stewart: Piano: Silver Clouds Chasing the Moon (Wang)
Accompanists
Russell Fraser
Hannah Hilton
Performer Information
Olivia is in S6 and is studying Advanced Higher Music. She is taught both piano and flute by Catherine O’ Rourke. Olivia passed Grade 7 Flute (Merit) and was the recipient of a Scholarship from NESMS to study flute with Catherine. She has a place at the University of Aberdeen to study English and Art History, however, would like to become a Music or Art Therapist. Olivia is a Performing Arts Ambassador, helping to organise faculty events in collaboration with other senior musicians and staff. She was part of the Advanced Higher Music class performance at the Live Lounge at The Barn at Barra Castle. Olivia is a member of NESMS Flute Choir who perform at various events throughout Aberdeenshire. Over her years in school, she has played in the Concert Band and Orchestra and various Wind Ensembles formed to play at community events.
Eilidh is in S5 and is currently studying Higher music. She is a singer and pianist and is taught both by Anna Hay. She recently passed Grade 7 Voice. Eilidh is the Assistant Director with Haddo Youth Theatre and coached the singers in their latest production ‘Olivia’. Eilidh would like to become a Primary School Teacher when she leaves school.
Ananya is in S6 and plays saxophone taught by Hannah Hilton, and piano taught by Ruby McKay. She has just passed Grade 8 Piano (Merit) and earlier in the year passed Grade 7 Alto Sax (Merit). A fantastic achievement and a great way to finish school. She is a valued member of the Orchestra and Concert Band. Anaya is planning to go to University to study Biological Sciences.
Eilidh is in S5 and is taught flute by Hannah Hilton. She is currently working towards her Grade 7 exam. She is a valued member of the Orchestra, Concert Band and Wind Ensembles formed to play at community events.
Alisa is in S4 and is currently studying National 5 Music. She plays piano and is taught in school by Dawn Smith. Her first instrument is bandura. This instrument has a unique sound and is the national instrument of Ukraine. When Alisa came to Meldrum and told us she played bandura, none of us had ever heard of this beautiful instrument and we certainly did not have one to give her. So, we set about a search and thanks to the power of social media, one was located in Nottinghamshire. Thanks to the kindness of Maria (an author) who donated the bandura, along with the help of many others, we transported the instrument to Meldrum. We are very grateful to Maria for her kindness.
Linden is in S4 and is studying National 5 Music. She plays piano and is taught by Wilma Geddes. She recently passed Grade 6 (Merit) and is sitting Grade 7 in June. She is taught clarinet by Rosie Milne and has passed Grade 6 and is sitting Grade 7 in June too. She performed alongside Elsie King (S2) and Sophie Knott (S6) at the Live Lounge at Barra Castle. Last month she took part in a piano master class organised by Inverurie Music with Maria Canyigueral. She is the recipient of a NESMS Scholarship to study clarinet with Ian Wilson. Linden is a valued member of the Orchestra and Concert Band and various Wind Ensembles formed to play at community events.
Olwenn is in S6, is studying Advanced Higher Music, and is also a Performing Arts Ambassador who supports young musicians and helps to organise faculty events. She recently passed Grade 8 (Distinction) on both flute and piano. A tremendous achievement and a great way to finish school. She is taught flute by Rosie Milne and is the recipient of a scholarship from NESMS where she studies flute with Catherine O’ Rourke. She received a second scholarship at NESMS to study piano with Nigel Clayton from the Royal College of Music in London. Last month she attended a piano masterclass with Maria Canyigueral and a flute masterclass with Boris Bizjak alongside Linden. She took part in the RSNO Young Creatives, a programme which involved workshops and playing with the orchestra in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. She is a keen composer and has composed music for flute, piano and for the Garioch Fiddlers. She is a valued member of the Senior Vocal Group, Orchestra, Concert Band and Wind Ensembles. Olwenn has received an unconditional offer to study music at the University of Aberdeen.
Harry is in S5 and is planning on studying crash Advanced Higher Music next session. He is taught clarinet by Hannah Hilton. In February he travelled to Portsmouth to undertake a week’s work experience with The Royal Marines. Here are Harry’s words: “I spent a week down at HMS Sultan with the Look at Life Course to gain a further insight into the roles of the Royal Marines Band Service. The week consisted of building up our skills to play alongside the parade band with the Royal Marines, learning to march with an instrument (a surprisingly difficult task to perform) and getting to play with the concert bands at HMS Collingwood and HMS Nelson. This was a fantastic experience and really inspiring to be part of such professional and well-respected bands. We were able to listen to some of the top musicians in the UK, some of whom had devoted their whole life to the band service and were given the opportunity to speak to current trainees to hear what they thought about the job so far. We also took part in a brief physical fitness test to allow us to see the physical requirements upon entry. Overall, this was an enjoyable and insightful week into the roles of the band service to help me decide whether this career is right for me.”
Ramsay in S2 is our youngest soloist today. As well as playing piano he is taught trumpet by Fabrizio Oddo. He is a valued member of the Orchestra and Concert Band. He is a member of Remastered one of our rock bands where he plays drum kit and piano. The band frequently perform at local events including The King’s Coronation Afternoon Tea in Oldmeldrum. He has passed Grade 3 Theory (Distinction) and recently passed Grade 2 Jazz Piano (Distinction). Ramsay is taught by Ian Milne.
Lillian is in S4 and is studying National 5 Music. As well as singing, taught by Matthew Rose, Lillian is taught saxophone by Hannah Hilton and piano by Anna Hay. She has passed Grade 4 Singing (Distinction) and recently passed her Grade 6 Musical Theatre exam (Distinction). She is the recipient of a scholarship from NESMS to study voice with Gillian Jack. She is a valued member of the Senior Vocal Group, Orchestra, Concert Band and Wind Ensembles.
