The Rotary Club of Oban’s Young Musician of the Year is Neil McCracken, a 15-year-old student at Oban High School who specialises in playing the piano but is also a gifted saxophone player. Young Neil entertained members and quests with his piano renditions to much applause at Oban Rotary’s recent annual Charter Dinner, which event also raises funds for local charities. Neil has gone on from these events to be chosen as pianist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland for their 2019 summer tour.
This involves a week’s preparation at Sabhal Mor Ostaig in Skye and thereafter playing in Glasgow and Belfast as well as other venues. Although the bulk of Neil’s costs are covered by the NYJOS, Oban Rotary provided £250 towards the amount he has to raise and president Iain MacIntyre is seen here presenting a cheque for this amount to Neil. He also expressed good wishes from all concerned in Oban for Neil’s future. Also in the photograph are fellow Rotarians Roger Parry, Kees Van Rein and Douglas Small.