BUDDING young Clacks musicians are being encouraged to enter a competition.

Entries are open for the first-ever Alloa Rotary Young Musician Competition, which is looking to showcase solo instrumental and vocal talent in the area.

Completely free to enter, the contest is for secondary school age young people up to 17 years as of August 31.

Entrants must either live in or be in education in the Wee County and will have a chance to battle it out in the finals to be held at Alva Academy on Thursday, June 2.

Rotarian Lindsey Spowage, who is leading the project, said: “All our local schools and many other youth groups have been sent information and we hope that music teachers and community leaders will support young people who want to take part.

“There will be heats to choose our finalists and the first step is to submit an entry form.

“After that, eligible entrants will be invited to submit their stage one performance electronically with support from teachers, parents, or other leaders.

“The competition final, in Alva Academy in June, will be a live event if all goes according to plan.”

While this will be the first competition of this kind organised by the Clacks group, Alloa Rotary is no complete stranger to such events.

Lindsey said: “People may be aware that across Britain, Rotary holds Young Musician Competitions with stages leading from local to regional to national awards.

“For our first event, Alloa Rotary is keeping it local and winners will not be entered into any further stages of a wider contest.

“We are very excited, however, to be taking this big step and hope to provide a fine showcase for local young talent.”

Young musicians have until the end of February to enter either as solo instrumentalists or as solo vocalists.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Alloa is also looking to recruit more members.

It is an opportunity to provide a service to the community, to bring new ideas and to put skills and experience to good use while making diverse connections and friends.

Last year and Covid-19 have brought both challenges and opportunities for the club, which got creative to continue serving the area.

In the past year the club and its members held the Breaking the Law Challenge, Tour de Clacks Cycle events, helped with the Wimpy Park Beechgrove Garden week of activity, run the Santa at Sterling Grotto for four weeks and carried out litter picks.

In the coming months, the club will be holding the Young Musician Competition as well as the Look Aboot Ye and Nebit Challenges.

Young musicians looking to enter the competition can visit tinyurl.com/4mph2etu, email youngmusiciancompetition@alloarotary.org for the entry form and guidance or scan the QR code.

Email membership@alloa.rotary1010.org for membership enquiries.