Max Wins Junior Young Musician of the Year at Robert Gordon’s College
Max with is axe and trophy!
We’ve got some seriously exciting news to share—Max, one of our students here at Upbeat Music School, has just been crowned Robert Gordon’s College Young Musician of the Year 2025 (Junior Category)!
Max, who’s only in S1, wowed the judges, his teachers, and a packed audience at the competition final, where performers from S1 to S3 brought their A-game. In fact, one of the teachers even commented on how incredible it was for an S1 student to make it to the final at all—never mind take home the win.
But if you’ve ever heard Max play, you’ll understand why.
Meet Max
Max’s love for the guitar started early—really early.
“I had my first lesson when I was four,” he says. “I was just really interested in the guitar, so I asked my Gran for one for Christmas. She got me one… the rest is history.”
Since then, he’s developed a passion for high-energy rock and metal, with favourites like Slash, Buckethead, Van Halen, and Guns N’ Roses regularly blasting through his practice sessions.
His first ever song? A heartwarming classic:
“Happy Birthday for my mum. It took me about three months to learn, and it comes up every year in her memories—so we all have a laugh watching it.”
The Winning Performance
Max shredding on his Les Paul guitar - just like Slash!
For the competition, Max chose two ambitious and expressive pieces:
“662” by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
“Anastasia” by Slash
“Liam introduced me to ‘662’ and I loved the rhythm and learning about the blues genre,” Max explains.
“Then I chose ‘Anastasia’ because Slash is my idol and the song has such complicated rhythms and finger work. I wanted to show off the whole neck of the guitar—and maybe be as good as Slash one day!”
When he stepped on stage for the final, nerves gave way to focus:
“I was nervous at first, but once I had my guitar in my hand I was much more chill.”
He brought the house down with a confident, expressive performance—and earned the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd.
In His Own Words
“I was so proud of myself. It was great to feel like all the hours of rehearsal had paid off.”
This isn’t the first time Max has stood out. Last Halloween, he hit the streets for a one-night busking session, raising £65 toward buying his own guitar.
“I played 13 spooky songs. Between that and birthday money, I bought my guitar!”
He’s also reprising the role of Zack in School of Rock at the Tivoli Theatre this July:
“I love that I have another chance to play that part on stage.”
When asked for advice for other young guitarists?
“Don’t give up! It’s so worth it. But you must put the hard work in—practice, practice, practice!”
Max at Upbeat
Max joined Upbeat Music School in September, already a strong player—but his growth since then has been incredible. His solos are more confident, his tone is cleaner, and he really pays attention to making every note count. What really stands out is how Max explores everything he learns. You show him a trick to improve his improvising, and the next week he’s built an entire solo around it. He just lives and breathes guitar.
Proud Parents
From Mum:
“His dedication is nothing short of inspiring—he pours his heart into every chord. He wants to be better than Slash himself! I’m waiting in the wings for my Momager status and ready for those stadium tour and rider contracts!”
From Dad:
“There was some seriously tough competition at RGC, so for Max to come out on top is just unbelievable. Watching him chase his passion with such drive and determination is one of the proudest moments of my life. I’ve been his roadie so far… but I’ll need a bigger van for Wembley and Glastonbury!”
What’s Next for Max?
Now that the competition is over, Max is:
Sharpening his School of Rock performance pieces
Exploring new musical genres
Setting goals to read and write music
Working towards grade exams
And maybe even writing original songs
Final Word
Max—everyone at Upbeat Music School is incredibly proud of you. You’re a brilliant guitarist, a hard-working student, and a huge inspiration to others.
To anyone reading this: if you’re just starting out or thinking of picking up an instrument, Max’s story is proof of what happens when passion meets persistence. Don’t give up—and turn it up loud!
Max holding his trophy with his guitar tutor, Liam.