Award for outstanding young isles saxophonist

Saxophonist Norman Willmore has won a £500 scholarship prize from the organisation Awards for Young Musicians (AYM).

Norman, 17, from Bixter, first achieved success five years ago when he was named Junior Young Musician of the Year in the schools music festival. Following that he appeared regularly with the young band Norman and the Folding Deckchairs while his latest group, MaSKArade, won Shetland’s recent Battle of the Bands competition.

During next month’s first Shetland Jazz Festival he will be performing along with Max Tyler in the band Troppo Funk, proving their own brand of youthful, energetic jazz.

The AYM gives grants of up to £2,000 each year to young musicians aged between five and 17 who are judged to display exceptional talent. The funding can be used to support music making in any genre, helping with costs such as buying an instrument, music lessons, course fees and travel.

Norman, a fifth year pupil at the Anderson High School, has been offered a scholarship through the Musicians Benevolent Fund, a charity providing essential help to musicians throughout their lives. This year the fund has enabled AYM to offer 12 additional awards worth a total of £10,000.

He intends to use the money to attend the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland’s summer school in July.

AYM director Hester Cockcroft said: “Once more we’ve had a very high number of applications for support from young musicians from across the UK, so Norman should be very proud of his achievement in gaining an award.

“Music is what defines these young people: it’s central to their life. We’re here to help them progress on their musical journey and give them the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential.”