After more than two years of online music tuition and rehearsals during the pandemic, East Dunbartonshire's young musicians are back together and have marked their return with a musical tribute to HM The Queen for her Platinum Jubilee.
The East Dunbartonshire Secondary School Orchestra chose Dambusters and Highland Cathedral to celebrate the Queen's landmark celebration. Their stirring renditions of both pieces, after only two in-person rehearsals, can be viewed on the Council's YouTube channel.
Over the last few Sundays, the schools' bands, orchestras and choirs have enjoyed reintegration taster days with tutors from the Instrumental Music Service and are hitting all the right notes. A total of 231 pupils performed over the last three rehearsals – musicians and singers from across the area, including 60 talented youngsters from the Primary Orchestra.
Councillor Lynda Williamson, the Council’s Convener of Education, said, “Live music is something that many of us missed greatly during the pandemic and none more so than young people with a passion for performing. I'm delighted they are now able to get together again, rekindling friendships and practicing in person. I'm sure our instrumental instructors are also enjoying the rehearsals as they’ve had an extremely challenging time providing instrumental instruction online over the past two years.
“Having watched these videos of the young people performing I am blown away by the talent we have here in East Dunbartonshire. It's quite astounding that after only two rehearsals, they can play so beautifully together. I'm looking forward to attending a live East Dunbartonshire Instrumental Music Service concert as soon as possible."
Our young musicians pictured at a pre-covid concert in the Royal Concert Hall.