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The health of Orkney’s young music scene continues to flourish with a hat-trick of young brass players selected for the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland.

Kirkwall Grammar School pupil Matthew Anderson, trumpet player, has been chosen for the fourth year running. He’ll be joined by Robert Norris (French horn) also from KGS, and Erina Brown (trombone) from Stromness Academy.

Orkney pupils now make up one quarter of the orchestra’s brass section.

Orcadian representation doesn’t stop there though as, in the strings, violin players Bea Watson from Stromness Academy and Amy Le-Mar from KGS have secured places, along with violinist Raqan Blance (Stromness Academy) who will join the training orchestra.

A further three pupils from Orkney will also enroll this year at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, to study music.   They are KGS pupils Eric Linklater and Matthew Wilkinson and Stromness Academy pupil James Watson.

Erik and James will be studying traditional fiddle and Matthew will study oboe and composition.

Vice-Chair of the Council’s Education and Leisure Services Committee, Steven Heddle, said: “These young musicians are just the latest in a long line of young people from Orkney who’ve achieved remarkable things in their field.

“This is a reflection of their own dedication and application, the quality and commitment of the Council’s instrumental service and music teams in schools - and of course of the very rich and supportive music scene in Orkney.

“I am sure with continued dedication these pupils are all destined to even greater achievements in the world of music in future.”

The National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland is a symphony orchestra for young musicians aged 8 – 14.  Auditions were held in Orkney in December.

The pupils joining the orchestra will attend Easter and Summer Courses as well as rehearsals. They will perform three concerts with the orchestra at Perth Concert on April 15 and Paisley Abbey on April 16 and July 6.