"Outstanding" 50th Forres Youth Concert

THE ORGANISERS of the 50th annual Forres Youth Concert were pleased with another "outstanding" event.

Former performer and Forres Academy student, Ewen Watson, confirmed this year's 14 acts displayed real talent in front of a packed town hall audience.

He said: "The concert was outstanding - the performances from the schools and clubs that participated were of a very high standard.

"It's always a joy to see so many talented young people take part, many of whom are performing in public for the first time. The feedback from the audience was overwhelmingly positive."

The bill featured: Forres Junior Pipe Band; a Forres Taekwon-do Dunbar Blackbelt Academy display; Anderson's Primary School Glee Club; Dallas Primary School singing 'Earth' songs; Logie Primary School singing Scottish Opera; Forres Brownies dancing to 'Don't Start Now'; Anderson's Primary School singers; Rising Stars singers performing 'Waving Through a Window'; Forres Academy singer Rachel Ballingall; Forres Academy singer Tegen Ashryver; Rising Star Rhianna Dawson singing 'Bruises'; Rising Star Harris Huggan singing 'Fly Me to the Moon'; Forres Academy singer Mia Barrere performing 'Beautiful Ghosts';and Rising Stars singing 'All Star'.

Co-organiser George Alexander said: "The standard of performers was excellent and the young people were a credit to themselves and their teachers.

"Compere for the night, Professor Marianne Nicolson, is a shining example to our our community of what can be achieved in this life. Marianne grew up in Dunphail on her family’s farm and attended Logie school and Forres Academy. She graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University and trained in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital before working for 25 years as a consultant oncologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where Aberdeen University made her a professor of cancer medicine."

Professor Nicolson was presented with the first Forres Youth Shield in 1974 by the late Dr Harry Morgan. Since then, the Forres Community Activities Assosciation (FCAA) has presented the shield 44 times.

This year, a new shield was presented to Kerry Niven-Gordon, an S5 pupil at Forres Academy. Charity volunteer, school prefect, library assistant, Moray Youth Matters member, Saltire ambassador and church helper, Kerry, is a worthy winner.

Her citation read: "Kerry believes that helping others is a way of enhancing community spirit. She has never been coerced into doing these things, having organised them herself and really gives them her best. Kerry demonstrates real citizenship and is a superb role model for other young people."

Mr Watson said: "Kerry has made an outstanding contribution in all of these roles."

He added: "On behalf of Forres Community Activities Assosciation, I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who took part in this year's event and made the 50th Youth Concert a memorable one."