West Lothian Young Musician hits the high notes

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Talented pianist Latisha Chan from West Calder High School has been named as West Lothian’s Young Musician of the year for 2024.Latisha’s superb performance of Etude Op.

10, No. 3, in Eb Major by Frederic Chopin saw her awarded the top trophy at the special concert at Deans Community High School in Livingston recently.She will now represent West Lothian at the national final held in the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Glasgow in May 2024.Multi-instrumentalist Latisha, who also plays trumpet in both school bands and regional ensembles, will also be heading off to the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland again later this year, after being accepted to study piano.The runners-up were gifted guitarist Allan Bishop from Whitburn Academy for his excellent rendition of Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Linlithgow Academy vocalist Colum Cameron’s outstanding version of Anthem from the musical Chess.The capacity audience were also entertained by a solo show from last year’s winner, pianist Oliver Plenderleith, followed by a performance by West Lothian Schools Big Band while the adjudicators decided on the prize winners.Executive councillor for education Andrew McGuire said: “Huge congratulations to Latisha for her superb performance to win West Lothian’s Young Musician of the Year.“Latisha was the runner-up last year, and she hugely deserved to win the top prize this year.

With finalists from nearly every secondary school in West Lothian, it shows the depth of musical talent we have in West Lothian, and what our young people can achieve though hard work and dedication.“I look forward to supporting Latisha at the national finals in May, where he will compete against some of the best musicians in Scotland.”He added: “Thanks to