Euan Kemp on winning the Scottish Young Musicians Competition 2024

On June 7th, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Euan Kemp, the remarkable 17-year-old saxophonist who recently won the prestigious Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year 2024. This competition, held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, brings together the finest young musicians from across the nation. Now in its third year, the event saw 31 participants representing nearly every local authority in Scotland, each performing before an esteemed panel of judges led by trumpeter John Wallace CBE.

Euan, an S6 pupil from The Music School of Douglas Academy, captivated the judges with his masterful renditions of Ryo Noda’s Improvisation No.1 and André Jolivet’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, ultimately earning the top prize. So join us for a friendly chat with one of Scotland’s most promising musicians…

Well, Euan, nice to meet you. How are you feeling?

Good! Yeah, I’m fine.

When it comes to competition playing, do you take that in your stride, or does it take some preparation and a different mindset when you step onto a stage?

Yeah, I think it’s always slightly different doing competition playing. It’s always quite different, I think, for me, playing in a competition solo compared to just playing in a concert. It requires a mindset of treating it like a concert and not going in treating it as a competition, but just as a performance. That’s what I tried to do a couple of Sundays ago.

Clearly, an approach which paid off for you. Now, how did your love for music begin? Do you remember a specific point, or has it always been with you?

My whole immediate family is musical. My mum’s the principal horn in the orchestra at Scottish Opera, and my dad was a viola player in the RSNO for a number of years and is now a music therapist. I was introduced to and surrounded by music very early on. The first thing I did was join a choir, the East Dunbartonshire Choir, when I was in P2, so around eight or nine years old. I remember it being really fun. From 2015 to 2019, I did six productions for Scottish Opera, singing as a boy treble in the children’s chorus and in solo roles. The first one was Carmen in 2015. I really loved classical music, especially the operas I was involved in. I started playing the saxophone in primary six and really got into it around P7 when I was looking to move schools and needed musical ability to get into Douglas Academy Music School.

Fabulous. So Euan Kemp, why the saxophone?

Initially, I took it up because it was offered in primary school. But now, having played it for a while, there are things I really love about it. The saxophone has a vocal quality, especially the alto sax, which is in the same range as my singing voice. Playing it feels like I’m expressing something personal. I also enjoy playing transcriptions of Baroque music, which creates a nice challenge. There’s not much original repertoire for the saxophone, so it’s interesting to recreate pieces for it.

Absolutely. When it came to your competition pieces, you chose relatively modern works. What drew you to those pieces?

I wanted to fit two pieces into the allotted time that complemented each other. I transitioned from the Jolivet to the Noda without a break because they start and end in similar atmospheres. I chose the Noda because it’s wacky and weird, with lots of extended techniques. It allows for improvisation and variation in performance. I wanted something that would be a bit shocking and different.

As a young musician, how has your education and school environment helped you fulfil your musical ambitions?

In primary school, the East Dunbartonshire instrumental music service was great. I participated in various choirs and orchestras. At Douglas Academy, the tutors have been amazing. The accompanist, Claire Haslin, is fabulous to work with. I’ve also taken up conducting this year, setting up a small chamber orchestra. The school schedule allows me to balance music and academic studies without strain, which is really nice.

Now that you’re coming to the end of your school career, what are your next steps? What are you looking forward to in an ideal world?

I have two options for next year, depending on my exam results. I have a place to study saxophone in London and a place to read music at Oxford University – all of which hinges on exam results.

Well, it sounds like music is central to your future. Do you see yourself diversifying as a musician, perhaps with conducting as well?

Yes, I’d like to have a dual career in both conducting and playing the saxophone. I love orchestral music and want to have a broader creative input. Conducting allows me to engage with a wide repertoire and bring everything together. But I wouldn’t want to give up the saxophone because I still love playing music directly from myself.

When you were in the competition, did you have a feeling that you had done well?

There were some little notes that went wrong, but I left the stage feeling that I had achieved what I set out to do. I enjoyed playing to a big crowd and the opportunity to perform that program. I had a great time and felt a buzz from the experience.

Were you worried about the competition when you heard others play?

Yes, there were many talented musicians, including people I knew from RCS juniors. The diversity of genres was impressive, and the other performers were amazing. I listened to the other two sessions I was in, and there were really fabulous people, including musical theatre performers and an amazing accordionist, Jake Johnstone, who was one of the runners-up. It was a great experience overall.

Well, Euan, thank you very much for your time. Congratulations again, and I trust you’ll go to your preferred institution. Have a lovely rest of your day, and hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future.