Oswestry Youth Music Festival proved to be an ‘exceptional year for Ellesmere College’ with students filling 68 top three places during the six-day event.
The college was well represented with more than 100 musicians aged from eight to 18 taking part. For some it marked their first performance in front of an audience and provided the opportunity for the students to gain valuable experience, receive expert feedback and have the chance to listen to performers from other schools.
The festival, now in its 48th year, attracted a record-breaking number of musicians who performed at venues across Oswestry in a celebration of youth music featuring a wide range of classes including string, woodwind, brass, piano, percussion, instrumental, vocal, choir and band.
The festival attracted 551 entries involving almost 50 schools and around 1,000 talented young musicians. Entries came from across Shropshire, north and mid Wales, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Birmingham and even Norway!
Tony Coupe, Ellesmere College Director of Music, said: “The Oswestry Youth Music Festival never disappoints and we saw some amazing performances in what has been an exceptional year at the event for Ellesmere College students.
“Our students figured strongly with 25 firsts, 23 seconds and 20 thirds in what was a thoroughly enjoyable musical extravaganza. Congratulations to everyone who took part for performing with such confidence, joy and skill. We are very proud of you all!
“Dariusz Golabek and Verity Carden performed Belle de Nuit and picked up first place in the 21 and Under Duets class, earning praise for the sensitivity they showed to one another during the performance. Mini Uras-Garvin and Holly Coupe took second and Kit and Nina Fisher third in a clean sweep for the college.
“In the 21 and Under Opera Class, Sophia Janahi sang with agility and clarity, dealing with the contrast required between sections with great skill. A wonderful performance resulting in a well-deserved first place. Lee Hickson was awarded first in the 21 and Under Two Contrasting Pieces Class, with Leontyna Utikalova second.
Both students were so supportive of one another and I hope they realised what a fantastic job they did! – a truly outstanding class to experience.
“Lee picked up another win in the Musical Theatre 18 and Under with her performance of Broadway Baby, before taking second with an amazing performance in the 18 and Under Pop Class with Who I Was Born to Be. A perfect title to sum up the passion, commitment and quiet determination that we have come to see in Lee.
“Verity Carden was awarded first in the 21 and Under Oratorio Class performing the Domine Deus from Vivaldi’s Gloria – a beautiful performance praised for its tone and excellent breath control. Leontyna returned to win the 18 and Under Classical Class where she was praised for her excellent Italian and also took second in the 18 and Under Test Piece Class.
“Rock Music had a beating heart at Oswestry Youth Music Festival 2025 and out of 12 bands, Ellesmere managed a straight one, two, three – a wonderful achievement by our students. Mason and the Guys won with Somebody Told Me, The Small Furry Animals, featuring Florence Hughes, Henry Hughes and Douglas Dean, were second performing Basket Case, and Spoiled Milk came third with The Emptiness Machine.
“Ellesmere’s Wind Ensemble performed Viva La Vida by Coldplay in a fantastic arrangement that was performed with energy and panache – a performance that was awarded first place, and the Porthmere Wind Band – a joint ensemble between Ellesmere College and Porthwaen – received an Outstanding Mark and took first place with their performance of the iconic YMCA.
“This year we had four of the 15 students competing on finals day which brought together winners from earlier in the week in the vocal, piano, woodwind, brass and percussion classes in the 12, 15 and 21 age groups – all battling it out for the overall Festival Trophies. They were Kit Fisher, 12 and Under Percussion, Kiri Kilgannon, 15 and Under Vocal, Alex Hu, 15 and Under Piano, and Lee Hickson, 21 and Under Vocal.
“It was lovely to hear such a varied and high quality afternoon of music and all of our finalists performed brilliantly. I am delighted to report that Kit Fisher won the 12 and Under Final and was awarded the Young Performer of the Year trophy and £100.”
RESULTS
CHOIRS
12 and Under KS2 Choir 2nd
16 and Under KS3 Youth Choir 1st
21 and Under Chapel Choir 1st
21 and Under Chamber Choir 2nd
21 and Under Vocal Ensemble Ellesmere Trio 3rd
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES
18 and Under Instrumental Ensemble Ellesmere String Ensemble 2nd
Ellesmere’s Wind Ensemble 1st
Porthmere Wind Band (joint ensemble with Ellesmere College) 1st with Outstanding Mark
Ellesmere College Senior Orchestra 2nd
Lower School Recorder Ensemble 1st
Lower School Junior Band 3rd
SOLO CLASSES
15 and Under Classical Vocal Kiri Kilgannon 1st
15 and Under Classical Vocal Bella New 3rd
12 and Under Musical Theatre Chloe Hart and Tom Ford joint 2nd
Pop Song Tom Ford 1st
12 and Under Pop Song Ellie Devlin 2nd
12 and Under Pop Song Eddie Harris 3rd
21 and Under Opera Sophia Janahi 1st
21 and Under two Contrasting Pieces Lee Hickson 1st
21 and Under two Contrasting Pieces Leontyna Utikalova 2nd
Musical Theatre 18 and under Lee Hickson 1st
Musical Theatre 18 and under Ellie Kimber 3rd
21 and Under Oratorio Verity Carden 1st
18 and Under Pop Lee Hickson 2nd
18 and Under Classical Leontyna Utikalova 1st
18 and Under Test Piece Leontyna Utikalova 2nd
12 and Under String Jack Wilks 2nd
12 and Under String Florence Hughes 3rd
15 and Under B Musical Theatre Kiri Kilgannon 3rd
15 and Under B Musical Theatre Isobel Philbin 2nd
15 and Under B Musical Theatre Guy Mason 1st with rare OUTSTANDING mark
Musical Theatre VV Alkureishi 2nd
15 and Under Pop Song Douglas Dean and Kiri Kilgannon joint 2nd
15 and Under Pop Song Isobel Philbin, Henry Hughes and Louise Llewellyn-Jenkins joint 3rd
15 and Under Folk Song VV Alkureishi 1st
15 and Under Folk Song Eva Ford and Bella New joint second
Musical Theatre VV Alkeureshi 3rd
Musical Theatre Ellie Devlin 3rd
15 and Under Piano Alex Hu 1st
15 and Under Piano Gavin Song 2nd
15 and Under Piano George Gration 3rd
12 and Under Brass Solo Frankie Haydon 3rd
15 and Under Brass Solo Henry Hughes 3rd
15 and Under Woodwind Solo Jasper Kimber 3rd
18 and Under Woodwind Solo Kristian Davidson-Jackson 2nd
12 and Under Drumkit Solo Kit Fisher 1st
12 and Under Drumkit Solo Tate Horton 2nd
15 and Under Drumkit Solo Kit Fisher 2nd
21 and Under Tuned Percussion Kit Fisher 1st
15 and Under Drumkit Solo with Backing Track Kit Fisher 1st
15 and Under Drumkit Solo with Backing Track Isobel Philbin and Zoe Peloquin joint 3rd
Nine and Under Vocal Solo Test Piece Lottie Philbin 1st
Nine and Under Vocal Solo Own Choice Lottie Philbin 1st
Nine and Under Vocal Solo Own Choice Zoe Peloquin 2nd
Nine and Under Vocal Solo Own Choice Trixie Oakes 3rd
Musical Theatre Lottie Philbin 2nd
12 and Under Percussion Final Kit Fisher 1st – awarded the Young Performer of the Year trophy and £100.
DUETS
21 and Under Duets Dariusz Golabek and Verity Carden 1st
21 and Under Duets Mini Uras-Garvin and Holly Coupe 2nd
21 and Under Duets Kit and Nina Fisher 3rd
Collaborative Guitar and Drum Duet with The Marches Henry Hughes 1st
Violin Duet Douglas Logan and Alex Hu 2nd
ROCK MUSIC
Mason and the Guys 1st, The Small Furry Animals 2nd, Spoiled Milk 3rd
Wind Ensemble of Ellesmere College at Oswestry Youth Music Festival 2025.
