The CREATE Scottish Young Musicians final has once again showcased the exceptional musical talent across Glasgow, providing young musicians with the opportunity to compete for a place in the Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year competition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland being held on Sunday 24 May 2026.
On 10 and 11 February, all schools in Glasgow were invited to take part in their local final at City Halls. Adjudicators were blown away by the phenomenal standard of musicianship from young performers across the city at this year’s Scottish Young Musicians Primary and Secondary Competitions. The musicality, confidence and sheer commitment shown by all the young performers made for two fantastic events.
Scottish Young Musicians, Scotland’s leading festival of music competitions, has returned for 2026 to give young people across the country the chance to compete for the titles of Solo Performer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year and Brass Ensemble of the Year. Participation in this career-enhancing competition has been offered to every Local Authority in the country as well as independent schools, in the hope that more young people than ever before will take up the opportunity to perform and take part.
S6 pupil, Cheryl Xu from Hyndland Secondary School, was awarded overall winner with a beautifully expressive performance of Élégie by Fauré on cello. Cheryl will now represent Glasgow at the Scottish Young Musicians National Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May. Instrumental runner up was S6 classical guitarist Ruslan Pankov, from King’s Park Secondary School with his rendition of Étude No. 24, Op. 60 by Matteo Carcassi.
Vocal winner went to Ruby Kerr, S5 pupil from St Andrew’s Secondary School with an emotive Heart of Stone from SIX the musical. Vocal runner up was Finlay Morrison, S6 pupil from the Gaelic school Ard-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu with his beautiful take on Puirt-a-beul.
The winner of the Scottish Young Musicians Primary Competition was Eason Wei, a P4 student from St. Patrick’s Primary School, who delivered a poised and expressive rendition of Concertino in G Major by Mozart on the violin. An outstanding performance that was full of musical maturity well beyond his years. Runners up were Beth McAlaney, an S7 fiddler from Govan Gaelic Primary School, who captivated the audience with a lively and confident performance of the jig Only for Barney, followed by the brilliant Liz Carroll reel Sevens, and P7 student Ben Streete from Pollokshields Primary School who impressed with a characterful and technically assured rendition of Gypsy Songs by József Balogh on saxophone.
Solo Performer of the Year is open to all young musicians who go to school in Scotland, whatever age or standard.
Each local authority will select a regional finalist, with all of them hosting local and regional heats across different schools to decide who will represent their area at the National Final, which will be held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May 2026.
In its 4 years, Scottish Young Musicians has become the largest and most important national music competition in schools, with around 99% of the school population taking part. These competitions give young people a life-changing and unforgettable experience, as well as the confidence to continue to compete at the highest level. It is open to all, across all socio-economic backgrounds, providing an opportunity which would not have existed otherwise.