A talented Edinburgh youngster has made it to the finals of a prestigious UK music competition.
Finlay Mackenzie, 16, from Portobello, Edinburgh, has made it to the top 10 final of the Young Drummer of the Year 2023, after impressing judges with his solo piece.
Finlay, who attends the City of Edinburgh Music School at Broughton High, had to compete against more than 400 other entrants before being shortlisted for the final 10. He was chosen after submitting a video of himself playing a solo work he had written to demonstrate his skills.
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The school boy said: “I got an email saying that I had made it to the top 40, so I was pretty excited about that.
“Then I was Christmas shopping in St James Quarter when I got a call from the competition organiser telling me I had made it to the top ten final. I couldn’t believe it!“
Finlay now has to attend the finals in Poole, Dorset, on 19 February 2023, to compete live in front of judges with nine other finalists. The winner will receive a trophy and is likely to be approached by drum and cymbal companies with endorsement deals.
He added: “My parents say I started showing an interest in drumming at 18 months old when I combined some upturned milk tins with a toy drum to make a drum kit. Apparently I would bang away on it for ages.
“I’m now on my third drum kit as I develop my sound.
“My drumming influences include jazz legends like Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Buddy Rich, but also contemporary Scottish drummers like Alyn Cosker, Graham Costello, and Stephen Henderson.
“My ambition is to follow in their footsteps to study jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland”, he said.
Finlay began drumming lessons at Portobello Music School at age three. He now teaches five to six year olds every Saturday morning as a way of giving something back.
Along with drums, Finlay also plays piano and vibraphone, and drums in a few jazz groups and ensembles.
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