Kilgraston’s Young Musician of the Year 2022
Kilgraston’s Young Musician of the Year has burst back into our calendar this year with an enraptured audience soaking up the many talents of the finalists.
From the tinkering of film scores like ‘Amelie’ and ‘Les Miserables’ to instrumental pieces such as Street Tango by Astor Piazzolla, there was a wide range of genres and instruments on display. Over 60 talented musicians from up and down the school had entered into the initial competition before the 20 finalists were selected. Kilgraston welcomed Dollar Academy’s Director of Music, Mrs Karol Fitzpatrick as the independent adjudicator to the event, which took place in March 2022. Mrs Fitzpatrick commended the pupils, thanking them for their performances before giving a detailed adjudication, full of positive comments and feedback for the performers.
The overall winners were Upper Third’s Caitlin, Junior School Young Musician of the Year, and Lower Sixth’s Manon, who won Young Musician of the Year, Senior School.
Mr Andrew Morley, Kilgraston’s Director of Music, said: “Kilgraston has a strong musical tradition with a superb quality of musicianship across a wide range of instruments and genres. It is something we are incredibly proud of and this year’s Young Musician Of The Year showcases the incredible talents of our pupils. Well done to everyone who took part and thank you to our adjudicator Mrs Fitzpatrick who had some difficult decisions to make so well done to Manon and Caitlin, this year’s Young Musicians of the Year in our Senior and Junior School categories and to all our category winners and runners up.”
You can watch the competition below.
Beginner Class
Runner Up - Elsie – Piano (Lower Third)
Winner - Eliza – Flute (Lower Second)
Junior Singing Class
Runner Up - Sophie (Lower Third)
Winner- Caitlin (Upper Third)
Junior Piano Class
Winner - Darcy (Lower Third)
Junior Instrumental Class
Winner - Sofia – Violin (Lower Second)
Overall Junior Winner – Caitlin (Upper Third)
Intermediate Piano Class
Runner Up - Olivia (Lower Four)
Winner - Liliya (Lower Sixth)
Intermediate Instrumental Class
Runner Up - Francesca - Flute (Lower Fifth)
Winner - Jenny - Violin (Upper Four)
Intermediate Singing Class
Runner Up - Erin (Upper Fifth)
Winner - Chloe (Lower Four)
Advanced Piano Class
Runner Up - Pak Wai (Upper Fifth)
Winner - Emma (Lower Fifth)
Advanced Singing Class
Runner Up - Maia (Lower Fifth)
Runner Up - Laura (Upper Fifth)
Winner - Hannah-Rose (Upper Sixth)
Advanced Instrumental Class
Runner Up - Janna (Upper Fifth) – Violin
Runner Up – Isabel (Upper Sixth) – Cello
Winner - Manon (Lower Sixth) - Violin
Overall Senior Winner and Kilgraston Young Musician 2022 - Manon (Lower Sixth)
Kilgraston Hockey XI team wins
Kilgraston Hockey XI is celebrating two momentous trophy wins in two days. In a nail-biting final on Friday, the team scooped the Scottish Hockey Aspire Girls Cup winning 3-2 on penalties against Selkirk High.
Huge crowds came to the Senior Schools’ Cup final at Peffermill and at half-time the score-line remained at 0-0 despite the best efforts of both sides with Selkirk and then Kilgraston being denied a goal by the superb skills of the goalkeepers.
Into the second half and Selkirk took the lead however, Kilgraston were quick to response with Upper Fifth’s Flora equalising. Kilgraston were spurred on but were denied a goal but some great goalkeeping and a near post save.
With no more goals, the game went to running penalties. In a tense shoot-out, Kilgraston took the lead, with Selkirk equalising. Selkirk were then denied a point after Kilgraston scored a second penalty, then both sides scored giving Kilgraston a 3-2 lead. Both goalkeepers saved their last two penalties, giving Kilgraston a 3-2 victory to claim the trophy in style. What an outstanding achievement for the team.
After a heroes’ welcome back to school and barely time to pause for breath, the team were back out on Saturday for the Kilgraston Senior School Hockey Invitational.
Playing schools including St George’s, Strathallan and Robert Gordon’s College, Kilgraston won or drew all their initial matches and conceded no goals. The team then took on High School of Dundee in a make-or-break final which Kilgraston won 1- 0 to be crowned the tournament winners and add another trophy to their collection in just 24 hours.
Hockey XI captain and the team’s goalkeeper, Upper Sixth’s Tallie, part of the Scottish Hockey Brave Aspiring development squad, said: “The team has worked so incredibly hard this season but winning the Aspire Girls’ Cup and then the Kilgraston Senior School Hockey Invitational makes all the early morning training, sessions in the rain and dark nights worthwhile. “When it came down to penalties at the Scottish Hockey Aspire Cup, we had to stay strong and focused. It was not just physically exhausting but mentally exhausting too. But when I saved the penalty we couldn’t believe it.”
Vice-captain Upper Sixth’s Poppy, who plays Forward, added: “Winning the Kilgraston Scottish Schools Invitational was amazing and we knew we had to beat High School of Dundee in our last match to win. But we all believed in ourselves and our team; we knew we could do it and our coaches, Mr Stott and Miss Patton have been so committed to us and trained us so hard we are really grateful to them both.”
Photographs: David McCarthy
Ukraine - Kilgraston supports Ukraine appeal
As the situation in Ukraine enters its fourth week, Kilgraston pupils and staff continue to send minibuses full of much-needed items to Errol Airfield, depot of the organisation, Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine.
Our pupils and staff have also been tirelessly volunteering at the Morris Leslie depot at Errol’s Airfield. This weekend Boarding Mistress, Miss Carden, and a number of senior boarders spent several hours packing warm clothing, bedding and medical supplies so that yet another much-needed shipment could leave for those in need in Poland and Ukraine.
This continuing effort started on the first of March with our initial donation appeal to the Kilgraston community. Hundreds and hundreds of beautifully-labelled donations, together with dozens of bunk beds from one extremely generous parent, swiftly arrive. Removal firm ‘Clockwork’ donated a lorry, transport costs and staff to fill a huge vehicle, bound for an orphanage in Poland, now home to Ukrainian children.
Within School, pupils have shown their support for Ukraine, transforming Kilgraston’s central glass square into a sea of blue and yellow flowers.
The donation journey of all Kilgraston’s support for this appeal can be followed on the Tayside & Strathearn Ukraine Appeal Facebook page as the donations and volunteering work continues.
The depot in Errol (PH2 7TB) is open 10-6 every day, seven days per week. Volunteers are very welcome, please check on the Tayside &Strathearn Ukraine Appeal Facebook for information. Donations are still desperately needed and can also be dropped-off at LCM Vans Ltd, Arran Road, Perth, PH1 3DZ (next to the Kia and Volvo dealerships): please call 01738 629777 with any queries or at the depot in Errol. Please though, ONLY those items from the list on the TASHFU FaceBook page (copied on slider pictures below). Thank you so much.
Sixth Form Ball 2022
The Kilgraston Sixth Form Ball, without question has always been a highly anticipated and central event in the school calendar for not only the girls in Lower and Upper Sixth but for the Kilgraston staff as well.
The 2022 Ball followed a Parisian theme, titled as ‘A Midnight in Paris’ with a spectrum of elegant ball gowns on display. Whilst Central Hall was decorated with hanging gold stars from the balcony and shimmering fairy lights, the Theatre was renovated into an illuminating French atmosphere incorporating wine bottles with candle wax, Pot Pourri and more, with each table named after an iconic Parisian place: Le Louvre, La tour Eiffel, Le Moulin Rouge etc. Around the ambience were not only self-constructed lampposts but also a hand-crafted 3D Eiffel Tower with inside lighting, replicating the famous landmark at night time. In his first year at Kilgraston, Head of Art Mr Lapeyre, with his ‘can do attitude’ sprung to the opportunity of expanding the Upper Sixth’s creative side and artistic potential. Many girls volunteered to stay late on a weekly basis in the days leading up to the Ball to finish constructing the props and items we had envisioned months ago.
The dining experience first began with Grace and a touching reflection from Deputy Head Girls India and Yolanda prior to the main course of ‘Roast Chicken Supreme’ with cured French bacon being served. Next up was the delicious dessert, ‘Chocolate and Armagnac mousse’ prepared by Dougie and the Inspire Catering Team.
After the meal came the comedic and light-hearted ‘Vote of Thanks’ speech by Head Girl Maria who used the occasion to thank those around her and elevate spirits for the dancing that followed. For the last share of the evening, all guests adjourned to the grange for a period of dancing and entertainment with music by the incredible band Soul Inferno and mood lighting by Mr Pryke.
The success of the evening and transformation of turning Perthshire into ‘A Midnight in Paris’ was undoubtedly down to the work and commitment of several individuals, who all radiated enthusiasm and dedication to the Ball. Mrs McCormick and Mrs McFadden, as always, were fundamental in helping the night operate like clockwork with their wide expertise and guidance; it is fair to say they know a thing or two about Ball planning!
Collectively, it was the Upper Sixth, and in particular the Ball Committee and Head Girl Team whose hard work was on show during the event. It was a lovely moment for the 2022 Upper Sixth to unite together, admire their efforts and moreover grow in excitement for the Leavers trip to Paris this June.
A hugely successful and superb ‘nuit’ had by all, merci!
Maria E, Head Girl
Maths Challenge Finalists 2022
We are delighted to announce the finalists in the recent UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. In Lower Fifth, Francesca and Maria gained Bronze Certificates with Maria taking the Best in Year.
In Upper Fifth, Emily achieved a Bronze Certificate, Érin a Silver Award and Pak Wai swept the board with a Gold Certificate, Best in Year and Best in School.
Pak Wai scored so highly that she has been invited to take part in the prestigious Pink Kangaroo round, which she will sit this week.
Well done to all the girls for their outstanding achievements. Here’s an idea of the problems they were dealing with:
Girls are invited to practice questions like these in the Maths Challenge Club on Wednesday lunchtimes with Mrs Vallance.
Web Publishing with Upper Four
The Upper Four classes have just completed their Web Publishing topic by creating a four-page website. The topic focuses on website design, considering aspects such as colour palette, fonts and font size, image size, page layout and site navigation. The girls had a wide choice of topic and there are sites on, for example, favourite books, plastic waste, protecting bees, interior design, and Thailand.
Given a project brief, the girls had to produce wireframe diagrams of their page layouts before creating and collecting text, image and video resources for their sites. The final part was putting the sites together at weebly.com.
The girls enjoyed the topic and worked hard to create some impressive sites. Here is some of the feedback class teacher, Mr Hamilton, received.
“I personally really enjoyed this topic, and I think my website looks good and I hope other people felt the same”.
“I’ve really enjoyed doing this project because I’ve learnt so much more about a topic I’m really interested in”.
Upper Four B voted Aoife’s and Jaya’s to be the best; Upper Four S voted Phoebe’s and Heidi’s to be the best.
Here’s a selection to look through.
Phoebe http://bees22.weebly.com/
Heidi http://letsrecycleforlife.weebly.com/
Aoife http://acolour.weebly.com/
Jaya http://traveltothailandjva.weebly.com/
Charlotte http://daggersandblankers.weebly.com/
Naimh http://readersatheart.weebly.com/
Daisy http://twigplants.weebly.com/
Kilgraston Hockey Invitational 2022
It was a beautiful sunny day as the 13 teams from around Scotland took to the hockey pitches for the Under 13 and Under 11 Kilgraston Hockey Invitational.
We welcomed around 170 girls from eight different Scottish Prep schools, the first time we have been able to host this event since the pandemic in 2019 and the teams’ enthusiasm showed.
The excitement was palpable during the semi-finals and finals, particularly when the teams had to go to sudden death penalty shoot-out.
Well done to St Mary’s for their first place in the Under 11 category and to Edinburgh Academy for their first place in the Under 13 category and thank you to all the teams, staff and parents who took part and came to watch. We look forward to next year. Read more about sport at Kilgraston including our Hockey Academy.
Kilgraston Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships 2022
Sunday 6th March 2022 saw the Kilgraston Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships return to the events calendar after a year off due to COVID, and it was the biggest competition to date. With over 150 horse and rider combinations and 330 entries, there was 10 hours of dressage and showjumping running simultaneously across 3 arenas.
Thanks must go to Briagha, Fiona and Beth from the equestrian team for overseeing stewarding, Ms Curtis and her team for running the secretary’s office, Upper Sixth’s riding captains Tegan and Anna, Ms Carden for bringing the boarders and the SLT for handing out prizes.
Kilgraston riders were out in force with 14 teams entered on the day with some great results.
* Naomi, Rosie and Florence, all Upper Second, won Class 2 dressage and were third in the 55cm showjumping
* Dressage highlights included Upper Four’s Lucy coming 2nd in Class 3 dressage and the team of Hannah and Olivia, both Lower Four, together with Upper Four’s Lucy, and Kiki from Lower Sixth came 2nd in the teams section. Upper Sixth’s Tegan came 4th in the Novice dressage and the team of Tegan, Charlotte, Flora and Erin came 3rd.
* Show jumping highlights included a team WIN in the the 90cm for Charlotte and Flora, both Upper Fifth, together with Jessica and Erin both Lower Sixth, and many placing across the board for Mellissa, Hannah, Jessica, Lucy and team placings in every class.
A huge well done to all the girls that took part and helped and supported on the day.
Kilgraston’s Woman and Business series welcomes journalist and broadcaster, Catherine Pepinster
Who knew that a Ladybird book could alter the course of your life? One woman’s did and that is Catherine Pepinster, journalist, broadcaster, religious commentator.
Speaking to Kilgraston pupils from her base in west London, the journalist was delivering a lecture as part of the school’s Women and Business industry expert series: “I was only about seven or eight at the time and there, in my Christmas stocking, was the Ladybird book of newspapers, featuring a lady with a reporter’s notebook, and I thought, “that’s what I want to do!””
And she did, regaling pupils with stories of a childhood home filled with stimulating political discussion and intellectual reading material, noting, “My parents were always shouting at politicians on Panorama!”
Editing her school’s magazine fully galvanised a career in journalism, prompting Catherine to read Economic and Social Studies at the University of Manchester, before doing a Post Graduate diploma in journalism at City, University of London: “I know that being involved with the student newspaper at university definitely helped with my post-grad application. Work experience is absolutely vital, as is being insatiably curious; essential for a journalist!”
Proceeding to local papers, Catherine highlighted lessons learnt when pounding the pavements, attending courts, council meetings and inquests, explaining: “Very quickly, you learn the power of good contacts and being held to account by your community,” adding, “developing trust and respect lead to more stories being directed your way and that holds true to this very day.”
Moving-up to national newspapers, Catherine’s talent was spotted by The Tablet magazine, becoming its first female editor since its 1840 inception and where she experienced one of her career’s biggest scoops: “I received a tip-off about the resignation of Pope Benedict XV1 in 2013. It wasn’t trite to say this really was the first draft of history.”
The power of working and thinking as an individual – having ideas, following instincts – was counterbalanced with an explanation of how news comes together and the line-up behind production: “Always remember, well-presented, accurate reporting takes a large team of professionals.”
Concluding her talk, Catherine highlighted how her long career in journalism has offered “a reserved” child, self-belief and confidence: “During Downing Street’s Tony Blair era, I was curious to know about the acquisition by the Labour Party of a sizeable London building,” she continued, “Looking-up an old contact, I was able to request – and receive – information evaded by others. You have to hold your nerve and poise so people feel they can trust your judgement.”
Asked about the future of her profession, the focus was on ‘data journalism’, from the likes of Freedom of Information requests, and the creation of stories from available material: “I think that is definitely the way it is heading.” However, the power of the ‘long read’ was, she said, not to be under-estimated, referring to weighty weekly, The New Yorker’s terrific pieces.
‘Long reads’ is something with which Catherine is all-too-familiar, having just completed a 100,000 word book, entitled ‘Defenders of the Faith.’ It was, she concluded, an “ambitious six-month deadline” even for someone for whom words do come easily.
Kilgraston was greatly appreciative of her sharing her words with the school.
4.3.22
Catherine Pepinster taking over the reins of The Tablet. pic.David Sandison, The Independent
Pupils in front of Catherine’s ‘remote’ lecture
Pancake Day at Kilgraston
Every year, Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is seen as a highlight in the calendar for everyone to indulge and enjoy a treat before the beginning of Lent.
To follow our key focus on charity this school year, each year group has been assigned a charity to research and raise funds for throughout the school session. The Upper Sixth rose to this opportunity and decided to represent and support three different charity organisations.
In October, the Upper Sixth raised money for the Head Girl Team charity, CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) with a ‘Sponge the Upper Sixth and Staff’ event followed by a ‘Santa Dash’ in December for another Upper Sixth charity, Cardiomyopathy UK. On Pancake Day, for our third and final charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, we used this special occasion to sell pancakes at break time for senior pupils and staff with a range of sweet toppings. The most important element of this fundraiser for us all was to spread awareness and show respect to our cause for their admirable work and research.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is an extremely admirable charity; one that is very close to the hearts of many individuals at Kilgraston. In running this fundraiser, we aimed to show our solidarity to those affected by this illness and help raise funds for extended research and aid. Prior to the event, we unanimously agreed that we’d be happy with any donations made yet we were delighted to see that we had managed to raise a staggering total of exactly £300!
On behalf of the Upper Sixth, a massive thank you to everyone who donated to Pancreatic Cancer UK and helped us reach our target!
Maria E, Head Girl
