THE FIRST of hundreds of young people gathered in Perth yesterday for the start of two weeks of music, dance and verse.

Perform In Perth, the 81st Perthshire Musical Festival, kicked off at Perth City Halls with woodwind classes.

Children from across Perthshire and beyond played flutes, oboes, saxophones and other instruments for rooms filled with judges, classmates, relatives and other spectators.

The events included the first “honours” grading of the festival, Kinross Primary pupil Murdo Elwis, who won the flute solo (elementary) class.

The two-week event is expected to be the last such festival held in the city halls, with the building’s future in doubt.

The committee have revealed they expect this year’s event to break previous records, with more than 1200 young people set to take part.

Last night, a new venue was used, with bagpiping events at Scone’s Old Parish Church.

The public are welcome, with admission charges applied up to a £10 ticket for all sessions. Pro- grammes are £2 at all sessions and are available from Concorde, Scott Street, Perth.

Results:

Woodwind solo (beginners): 1 Kitty Rowan-Hamilton, Ardvreck (88); 2 Lindsey MacDonald, Morrison’s Academy, Crieff (87); 3 Stella Reilly, Viewlands Primary, Perth (85).

Flute solo (elementary): 1 Murdo Elwis, Kinross Primary (90); 2 Sylvie Kay, Kinnoull Primary, Perth (89); 3 Charlotte Brzeski, Crieff High (86).

Woodwind solo (beginners): 1 Ryan Sturrock, Logierait Primary (88); 2 Kirsten Ogg, Strathtay (87); 3 Rohanne Compson-Bradford, Collace Primary (86).

Clarinet solo (elementary): 1 Jenny Hutton, Community School of Auchterarder (84); 2 Rachel Gordon, Community School of Auchterarder (83); 3 Hannah Al Khalifa, Kilgraston School (80).

Woodwind solo (beginners): 1 equal Alice Leslie Melville, oboe, Kilgraston School, and Alice Onslow, oboe, Ardvreck (both 84); 2 Finlay Campbell, alto saxophone, Logierait Priamry (83); 3 Chloe Kerr, alto saxophone, Kilgraston School (82).

Oboe solo (elementary): 1 Harriet Baird, Kilgraston School (82); 2 Victoria Lund, Kilgraston (80).

Alto saxophone solo (elementary): 1 Euan Milne, Breadalbane Academy (85); 2 Archie Hawkes, Craigclowan (83); 3 Alex Stewart, Pitlochry High (82).

Flute solo (intermediate): 1 equal Morag Elwis, Kinross High and Mairi Wilson, Crieff Primary (both 88); 2 Zoe Pattinson, Pitlochry High (85); 3 equal Jennifer Scott and Ruth Thomson, both Pitlochry High (84).

Flute solo (advanced): 1 Ciara Elwis, Strathallan (87); 2 Shirley Scott, Community School of Auchterarder (84); 3 Sarah Macaskill, Community School of Auchterdarder (83).

Flute solo (open): 1 Laurie Esparon, Kinross High (83); 2 Rhona Crichton, Wormit (81); 3 Megan Pringle, Breadalbane Academy (80).