Take a Minute to show support for St Mary’s Music School
The animated short film, The Minute Waltz, released earlier this spring, has had over 25,000 views on the website and across social media, garnering widespread support for the proposed move to the Old Royal High by Scotland’s national music school.
There has been a lot of interest in the piano performance by Rory Kemp, a 13 year-old piano pupil at St Mary’s Music School. The music which is used for the animated film is the well-loved Valse du petit chien or the Minute Waltz composed by Frederic Chopin in 1847.
Rory, who studies with Mrs Margaret Wakeford at the school, performed the Minute Waltz for Nicolas Parson’s Happy Hour at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. He also won the Marion P Gibb Medal for an Under-13 piano recital last year. This year he was commended in the Under-18 10 Minute Recital Class. Rory has also been a finalist twice in the James Waterhouse Piano Competition, both times in the Intermediate Class.
Commenting on the widespread success of the animated film, Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher, said:
“I am delighted at the response of The Minute Waltz and that Rory Kemp’s performance has added to the message of the animated film. I am pleased that the full performance by Rory is available for all to enjoy and to encourage viewers to take a minute and support our Bursary Fund Appeal. The thing that is exceptional about our pupils is that they show great musical promise. Entry to the school is by audition, and is based on musical ability and potential. Thanks to the Scottish Government’s Aided Place Scheme it is not dependent on financial circumstances. We raise funds annually to support the next generation of exceptional young musicians. Our bursary scheme enables financial support to be given to talented children throughout Scotland, hoping for the opportunity to learn in our supportive and inclusive teaching environment.”
To view the performance and take “a minute” please see below.
To show support for the Bursary Fund and the most deserving pupils, please visit the Support Us page. If you would like to receive news updates and information about performance from St Mary's Music School, please visit our Sign-Up page.