Young Ayrshire musicians play capital concert

Mar 6 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

THREE eight-year-olds from Ayrshire played their violins at a concert in London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Matthew Taylor, Thomas Davis and Aileen Harrow are all pupils of Amanda James, who runs the Kyle Suzuki Violin Group.

And Amanda specialises in the renowned Suzuki method, which encourages children’s development in music.

Amanda travelled to London with her young pupils, and she said: “The concert was wonderful, with an audience of nearly 2000.

“My three pupils were among hundreds of young musicians on stage at the same time.”

The huge ensemble played pieces including Minuet 3 by Bach and Humoresque by Dvorak.

Matthew Taylor is a pupil of Ayr’s Wellington School, Thomas Davis goes to Ayr’s Grammar School, and Aileen Harrow is a pupil of Kilmarnock’s Gargieston Primary.

Ayr-based teacher Amanda said: “I’m sure the concert will live on in the children’s memories.

“Enjoyment is the main idea behind the worldwide Suzuki method.

“Christophe Bossuat, who helped found the European Suzuki Association, was musical director on stage.

“And he told the children that musical enjoyment would stay with them all their lives.”

The Suzuki method covers a whole range of instruments, and also on stage were young people playing cello, viola, piano, recorder and flute.