STUDENTS from all six Inverclyde secondaries were finely tuned as they battled it out to be crowned the area's best young musician.

The annual competition organised by the Rotary Club of Gourock took place at Clydeview Academy with Ewan McDonald, of Notre Dame High, named solo voice champion and St Columba's High pupil Callum Lang picking up the solo instrument prize for his performance on the tenor saxophone.

Ten students took part representing all of the area's secondaries.

Boyd Thomson, president of Gourock Rotary, said: "The audience were left in no doubt about the wealth of musical talent within Inverclyde.

"The pupils offered music and singing of an exceptionally high standard. "The local teachers should be commended for the variety and standard of the pieces presented."

The solo voices section saw eventual winner Ewan competing against Romy Campbell, of St Stephen's, Clydeview's Jade Bonnar and Lisa June McDonald, representing St Columba's High.

Their impressive performances left judges William Barr, Patricia MacMahon and Donald Ritchie, with a tough task choosing their champion.

In the end, Ewan edged it with two excellent renditions of 'Alma del core' by Antonio Caldara and 'Silent Noon' by Vaughan Williams.

He was accompanied by Notre Dame's principal teacher of music, Gerard Gordon.

Solo voice runner-up was Jade Bonnar, accompanied by Polly Beck, with performances of 'Where er You Walk' by GF Handel and 'Maria Wiegenlied' by Max Reger.

Mr Thomson said: "Both gave polished, professional performances."

The solo instrument competition was even more varied, featuring clarinet, euphonium, guitar, tenor saxophone and flute.

Winner Callum Lang, of St Columba's, gave first-class renditions of the complex 'And Everything is Still' by Andy Scott and 'Tangram' by John Robert Brown on the tenor sax.

Runner-up was Connor Bristow, of Port Glasgow High, playing 'Sunstreams' by Ian Clarke on the flute.

Also taking part were James Morris, from Inverclyde Academy, on the classical guitar, St Stephen's pupil Jennifer Hagan on the clarinet and Notre Dame's Lucy Smith on the euphonium.

The winner will take part in the regional finals at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on March 18.

Mr Thomson said: "The club would like to thank the schools for encouraging and tutoring the pupils who took part and hope one of the winners may end up in the national finals where we have already had some success. "Perhaps 2019 will be the year Inverclyde takes a first."

Gourock Rotary would like to thank Clydeview Academy for hosting the competition and the home economics department for providing an excellent buffet.