Abbie hits high note at festival debut
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THE lockdown may have restricted many avenues of life but it has not prevented a talented young Buckie musician from claiming a prestigious trophy.
There was a triple first on the go for Abbie Nye (16) recently when she entered her first Aberdeen and North East Music Festival in what was its inaugural appearance online due to the Covid-19 restrictions. It was to be an exceedingly worthwhile debut for her, not least when she claimed the J Murdoch Henderson trophy for the 16 and Under Traditional section for Fiddle.
All the competitors had to video themselves performing the tunes required for their category, although there was a surprise in store for Abbie when she logged on via Zoom for the competition day itself.
“On the zoom call they showed all the competitors’ videos, which was actually quite nerve-racking,” she said.
“I never realised that they were going to do that, that everybody would see your set.
“As would normally happen at a competition like this, the adjudicator, Marie Fielding, gave us each individual feedback.
"I thought we might just get a group chat but it was wonderful to get individual constructive criticism and advice.
“This was my first time at a competition at this level; I’ve done some more locally but it’s mainly performing I’ve been doing.
"When I entered I didn’t think I'd win or do that well, I was after the experience of competing at that level.
"After I turn 17 I’ll move up to the adult category at competitions and I want to get as much experience as I can under my belt..
“You always want to win, though, even if you don’t think you will and I’m very chuffed, especially on my debut. The standard was very high, it’s a tough section I was in.
"Doing by video means to have the chance to go back and perfect things which you can’t do when you’re performing live, you just get the one chance.”
Buckie Community High School student Abbie is, like her classmates, waiting to go into S6 on August 11, however she has been far from idle since the schools closed in March as part of the bid to control the spread of the coronavirus.
The Advertiser recently highlighted how Abbie had set up her own music page on Facebook (June 9, Teen hits right note on music page) to help develop her own skills as a musician and pay tribute to frontline workers battling the pandemic.
She said: "The page has been doing really well, I’ve now got over 400 followers and almost 400 likes.
“It’s also on Instagram now with 200 followers and is developing rapidly.
“I’ve been developing my recording and editing skills as well as working on collaborations. It’s a great way to keep in touch with my musician friends.”
Abbie has also been busy continuing her work with the Lossiemouth Entertainment Academy, again via the internet after it closed as part of the lockdown.
Prior to the pandemic, she had been working as a teacher there, a a role she has been performing at LEA for the past two years.
Her relationship with the academy originally began when it was involved in a project with Moray secondary schools, including BCHS.
Along with the other S4-5 students involved, Abbie helped create a musical from scratch, including scripts, songs and dance routines depicting the many pressures and stresses affecting young people today in their everyday lives.
It was to culminate in a performance lasting between 45 and 60 minutes.
The show was to open doors for the talented teen, who is also a classically trained pianist and former winner of Buckie High’s Senior Young Musician of the Year.
“It was a very powerful performance for us all and it turned out to be an amazing opportunity, I loved every minute of it and made so many new friends,” she continued.
“The experience got me into music tuition with the academy and before the lockdown I was working with five or six young pianists and one mature violinist. Since lockdown I’ve set up a virtual learning platform and prepared lessons for students based on what would’ve been their normal classes. They can then go online and access their learning to allow them to continue their studies.”
Away from the classroom, LEA’s Christmas Show saw Abbie perform a solo piece, a head for heights as well as musical ability required as she played on a raised platform on the stage.
One impact which modern technology has not been able to mitigate was Abbie’s intended debut at the Edinburgh Festival.
However, the pandemic has not dented her determintation to go to university after completing her S6 year to study to become a music teacher.
Click here to visit Abbie's music page.
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