East Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year 2026

Competing in the final within the junior category were - Angus from Loudoun Academy (piano), Lucy from Stewarton Academy (voice), Kai from Doon Academy (electric guitar), Mariella from Kilmarnock Academy (voice) and Evie from Grange Academy (tenor horn) - and within the senior category - Alex from Loudoun Academy (guitar/ voice), Logan from Doon Academy (cello), Gregor from Stewarton Academy (percussion), Neave from Kilmarnock Academy (voice) and Ethan from Grange Academy (piano).

The competition was adjudicated by Siobhan McAuley, Head of Instrumental Music from Clackmannanshire Council and David Munn, Director of Music from Sistema Scotland; while Mae Murray from the Music Education Partnership Group presented the awards. The standard was extremely competitive and the judges had a very difficult task selecting the winners.

Mariella won the junior competition singing Alma del core and Vanilla ice cream; while Ethan won the senior competition playing Chopin's Premiere Ballade.

The junior runners up were - Angus and Evie while the senior runners up were - Gregor and Neave.

Dr Julie Carrie, Music Services Manager said: "The East Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year competition is one of the highlights of our year. The incredible talent of our young people never fails to impress, and I was really delighted to congratulate winners - Mariella and Ethan and runners-up - Angus, Evie, Gregor and Neave.

"Heartfelt thanks go to the judges Siobhan McAuley and David Munn, they really did have a tough job; the standard of performance was exceptional."