David Arnold to judge junior music-making competition

Composers of soundtracks to films such as Quantum of Solace, Atonement and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are to judge the work of a city teenager, reports The Scotsman.

Alex McMillan, a pupil at Stewart's Melville College, has beaten off competition from more than 1800 youngsters to be shortlisted for the Sibelius Student Composer of the Year 2008 competition.

Judges include Harry Potter composer Patrick Doyle, Atonement composer Dario Marianelli, and David Arnold, who has written for the James Bond series.

The 17-year-old, from Blackhall, is calling on local people to vote online for his soundtrack to a film clip. Votes from members of the public will be totalled and carry the same weight as that of the competition's star judges.

Public voting closes at midday on December 31, with winners announced on January 14.

Alex said: "I've got until New Year's Eve to persuade as many people as possible to listen to my piece and, if they like it, to vote for me to win. I've never taken music as a subject at school but more approached it from a different angle – experimenting with exactly the kind of things I want to in my own time."

The winner will have the opportunity to take part in a masterclass with one of the star judges.

To vote, go to the website www.sibelius.com/studentcomposer

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