Young musicians hit right note at Falkirk church event

The wealth of young talent on show in the ‘Faw Kirk’ last Saturday so impressed the judges and audience that arrangements are already being made to welcome the festival back in 2017.

The plan has already been boosted by a £500 cheque from Falkirk Council presented to church organist Robert Tait by Provost Pat Reid.

Organised in partnership with the Rotary Club of Falkirk and the council, this year’s winner was pianist Anna Michels. The 17-year-old, who played a Liszt sonnet, will now perform at the Rotary District Central and West area final in Airdrie on February 10.

She will be joined on the night by Falkirk’s runner-up, singer songwriter Eilidh Park (17) who sang her own composition accompanying herself on guitar.

While these talented teenagers will ‘carry the flag’ for the town, head adjudicator John Leitch, chairman of the Ayrshire Music Festival, said he was very impressed by the skills of the other four competitors on the night, vocalist Mhairi Sharkey, cellists Anna Dougan and Sarah Laing and clarsach player Nadia French.

Gillian Gardner, Trinity Church’s business and development manager, said: “The standard was exceptionally high, all the performances were delightful. A music festival used to be a regular feature in the town, but after last Saturday it’s agreed it should be an annual event once again.”