Edinburgh Music Competition Festival 2025

Following on from our success at the Scottish Schools Pipe Championships earlier this month, Watson's enjoyed more musical achievements at the Edinburgh Music Competition Festival. Chamber ensembles and soloists from P2 to S6 represented the school in the 2025 Festival, in both competitive and non-competitive classes. Our Head of Music, Steven Griffin reports on the brilliant accomplishments across the school:

This year's Edinburgh Music Competition Festival was a hugely successful event for our junior and senior pupils. As musicians, they have all worked exceptionally hard throughout the academic session and are most deserving of such accolades:

Olivia (S6) performed Bruch’s passionate Violin Concerto and received very positive feedback in the Concerto Class (a class open to students up to post-graduate age). Anyone who saw her performance of this in school on Thursday 13 March, accompanied by our Symphony Orchestra, will have been impressed with her musicality and poise in this magnificent work. Olivia will also represent Watson's in the Scottish Schools Young Musician independent schools’ final later this month.

Olivia joined Isobel (S6, piano) and Henry (S4, cello) in the Chamber Music 'open' class, receiving a judgement of 'Highly Commended' in this hugely competitive class. Both our quartets who were entered in the Under 17s Chamber Music Class were awarded 'Outstandings': The Ettrick Quartet (Christian S3, Keyu S4, Eric S3, Theo S6); and the S2 Quartet (Dylan, Charlotte, Grace, Maggie). The S2 Quartet were described by adjudicator, renowned composer Paul Harris, as “The Polite Quartet” due to the thoughtful quality of their ensemble playing, as well as their interactions throughout the afternoon.

Many of our performers did incredibly well in solo competitions: 

'Outstanding' awards were given to Louis (P2, violin), Selena (P4, violin), Emily (P5 cello), Nikhil (P7, violin), Dara (P7, cello) and Archie (S1, violin). Emma (P6, violin) was judged 'Excellent') while 'Highly Commended' awards went to Neve (P5, clarsach), Mia (P6, violin) and Aakanksha (P5, cello).

While winning is not everything in a musical event, we were delighted to hear of some 1st prizes being awarded to our pupils. Siblings Matthew (P4) and Anna (P6) won the Marie Thompson Medal and the singing class 'Songs from the Shows' (10 and under) respectively. Anna was also 'Highly Commended' for her solo flute performance. P7 cello duo Dara and Murray won the Marjorie Clark Medal for their vibrant performance of the James Bond theme. Aakanksha and Emily (both P5) were runners up to Dara and Murray in the same class. In addition, Murray also won the Colin O’Riordan Medal for his solo cello performance.

Dara and Murray were invited to perform at the festival's final concert on Sunday 16 March which they did with gusto! As this was an invitational 'highlights' concert it was quite an honour for these young cellists to be invited to perform. It is also a testament to the excellent instruction they receive from Mrs Gillan.

Huge thanks goes to all our staff, both visiting and permanent, who prepare our pupils for wonderful opportunities such as these. Coming the same week as all three Pipe Bands winning their Scottish Championships, we can safely say that there is a bright future for our young musicians of all ages!