MUSSELBURGH’S annual Young Musician of the Year competition was described as “a glorious evening”.

The event is organised by the local Rotary club, which said it was always a “wonderful night of young vocal and instrumental talent and this year was no exception”.

Three local schools took part in the competition at Loretto School chapel – Musselburgh Grammar School, Loretto School and the Mansfield School of Music.

Seven instrumentalists performed, playing cello, saxophone and piano, and eight vocalists sang a range of songs from Alan Menkin to Lana Del Ray.

Adjudicator Finlay Hetherington, head of instrumental music for Scottish Borders Council, had the tough task of choosing the winners.

After “some considerable deliberation”, he chose as the instrumental winner Jake Thomson, a pianist from Loretto who played Khachaturian’s ‘Toccata’.

Caitlin Dines, a cellist from Loretto, was runner-up with her rendition of Fauré’s ‘Elegie’.

The winner of the vocal section was Nathan Fisher, of Mansfield School of Music, with his performance of Schönberg’s ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’.

The runner-up was Kira Meszaros, from Musselburgh Grammar School, who sang ‘She Used to be Mine’ by Sara Bareilles.

Fox Stuart, Rotary club president, said: “It was a glorious evening showcasing young talent. It is always such an uplifting event and this year was no exception.”

She described the event as “moving, inspirational and humbling”.

The winners now progress to the area final on February 2 next year.