HISTORY-making Port Glasgow High pupils were on song at this year’s Inverclyde Music Festival.

Almost 50 students — 10 per cent of the school roll — took part in the event at Greenock Town Hall and claimed the highest number of prizes ever.

Port High won no less than four trophies, 18 firsts and 14 seconds in class across the music and drama contests.

Head teacher Stuart Clark said: “It says a lot for their commitment giving up their weekends and evenings practising and then going to participate and also how much they respect the event.

“According to the principal teacher of music it’s been our most successful year in terms of winners and participation.

“The percentage of pupils taking part was high but the success they have had, the way they have represented the school and also the support given to other schools and winners says a lot about the young people.”

Among the winners were flute-playing sisters Kirsten and Louise Mackay, inset, who blew the judges away in the woodwind categories.

Both won individual prizes and also teamed up for the first time ever to claim a duet award.

Sixth year pupil Kirsten, 17, who won the John Langan Trophy in the senior woodwind class for solo flute, said: “I feel quite honoured to be able to contribute to the wins of the school and to what I want to do as my own career, which is to go on and study at Napier University and become a professional musician.

“That was our first duet and we set a high standard for ourselves by doing a really advanced piece but we managed to make it work.”

Her younger sibling Louise, 14, said she was surprised by her triumph in her solo woodwind class.

The S3 pupil said: “I was quite shocked.

“I knew I had played the best I could but I didn’t expect to win because everyone was so talented.”

Port High junior orchestra also joined forces with Craigmarloch School and Newark Primary to put on an impressive performance.

Music teacher Kirstin Fraser said: “We’re proud of everyone, they have all achieved a lot by getting in front of an audience and performing.

“We’re very lucky to work here, we have wonderful young people.