Current and former Ellesmere College students struck the right chord with judges in another strong showing at Oswestry Youth Music Festival.
The festival, which has been running for more than 40 years, saw Ellesmere College collect 20 first places and a total of 40 seconds and thirds – making them the most successful school at this year’s festival
It was held at three venues in the town between March 1 and 5 and attracted more than 450 entrants across more than 80 classes, including woodwind, string, piano, brass, instrumental, percussion, vocal, choir and band.
Tony Coup, Director of Music at Ellesmere College, said: “Huge congratulations to all the students taking part and performing in this year’s festival and thanks go to all those who came and supported them through the five days of competition.
“Special thanks go to Kevin Whitley, Gaenor Ellis, Simon Fisher, Rebecca Paul, Zoe Fisher and Clare Pearce for putting so much time into supporting, preparing and looking after our students and of course to our brilliant students who performed to the highest standard.
“There were some notable performances, including Walker Music Scholar Molly Fry who produced a beautiful programme on the clarinet on her way to winning the Under 21 Woodwind Class. There will be an opportunity to hear Molly perform her Gershwin set at our Five Choirs Concert on April 21.
“Isobel Philbin sang Se Tu M’Ami with great character, clarity and poise in the 12 and Under final, Kit Fisher performed on the Drum Kit for both the 12 and Under and 15 and Under finals with a maturity and refinement well beyond his years, and the Oswestry Town Council Cup, won by Old Ellesmerian Jakob Fradley last year, went to Old Ellesmerian Kizzy Lumley-Edwards this year.
“In developing music to a high standard and encouraging students to enjoy their
performances, Ellesmere is the perfect place for the holistic development of musicians.”
The next opportunity to hear the award-winning choirs of Ellesmere College is on March 18 in the College Chapel at 7.30pm, ahead of their forthcoming tour of Barcelona, where they
will be singing in such prestigious locations such as the La Familia Sagrada, Barcelona
Cathedral and Montserrat Monastery.
For more information please visit: Music Scholarships at Ellesmere College
Results:
Vocal
Vocal Solo Classical & Traditional, The Rose Pinches Trophy, Isobel Philbin, 1st; Eva
Ford, 3rd. Vocal Solo Pop & Easy Listening, The Music MOB Award, Henry Hughes, 1st;
Isabella New, 2nd; Eva Ford, 3rd. The Rowanthorn Trophy, Noah Fisher, 2nd; Holly Coupe,
3rd. The Cluett Watkis Memorial Salver, Charlie Wood, 1st; Huw Lloyd and Noah Fisher,
joint 2nd. Vocal Solo, The Way Ahead Senior Trophy, Lewis Reardon, 1st. The Dario
Silcock Cup, Huw Lloyd, 1st; Lewis Reardon, 2nd; Olivia Philbin, 3rd. The Turner Trophy,
Kizzy Lumley-Edwards, 1st; Huw Lloyd, 2nd. Vocal Duet, The Dinnis Ford Trophy, Molly Fry
and Lucy Conway, 2nd; Molly Fry and Tabitha Leonard, 3rd. Oratorio, The Stans
Superstore Vocal Award, Olivia Philbin, 1st. Opera, The Rotary Club of Oswestry Trophy,
Kizzy Lumley-Edwards, 1st; Lucy Conway and Olivia Philbin joint 2nd.
Unaccompanied Folk Song, The Mary Cruikshank Trophy, Lucy Chadwick, 1st.
Musical Theatre
The Way Ahead Junior Trophy, Eva Ford, 3rd. The Elaine Channon Trophy, Mini Uras-
Garvin, 3rd. The Weston Pools Trophy, Huw Lloyd, 1st; Lewis Reardon, 2nd; Charlie Wood,
3rd. Musical Theatre Ensemble, The Fixauto Award, Ellesmere Lower School, 2nd.
Woodwind
Woodwind Solo, The Olympic Trophy, Molly Fry, 2nd. The Oswestry & District Arts
Association Cup, Molly Fry, 1st.
Drum Kit
Drum Kit Solo, The Kynaston Award, Kit Fisher, 1st; Isobel Philbin, 3rd. The Bowen Son & Watson Shield, Kit Fisher, 1st. The Claire Stone Award, Noah Fisher, 1st. Drum Kit Solo
With Backing Track, The Paradiddle Trophy, Freddie Heasmer-Jones and Kit Fisher, joint
2nd; Josh Philbin, 3rd. The Stans Superstore Award, Noah Fisher, 1st.
Strings
String Solo, The Leondari Award, Florence Hughes, 3rd. The Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond
Jubilee Cup, Alex Hu, 2nd; Freddie Heasmer Jones, 3rd.
Instrumental duet
The Melody & Metal Cup, Alex Hu and Lucinda Bound, 2nd; Kyara Heward and Ellie Kimber,
joint 3rd with Alex Hu and Aaron Heward. The Stans Superstore Award, Molly Fry and Tabby
Kimber, 1st.
Rock Bands
The Hermon Chapel Award, Fingers in the Sky, 1st; Small Furry Animals, 2nd.
Piano
Piano Duet, The Hawksley Award, Kyara and Aaron Heward, 1st. Piano Solo, The Edith
May Jones Cup, Aaron Heward and William Donaghy, joint 3rd. Beginner Solo, The
Richard Bean Memorial Trophy, Francesca Haydon, 3rd.
Brass
Brass solo, The Vernon Carter Memorial trophy, Henry Hughes, 2nd.
Ensembles
Percussion Ensemble, The Brian Stone Trophy, Ellesmere Dynamic Drummers, 1st.
Instrumental ensemble, The Med Aid Award, Ellesmere College Lower School Band, 2nd.
Chamber Music Ensemble, The Whittington Chamber Music Festival Trophy, Ellesmere
Instrumental Ensemble, 3rd. Vocal Ensemble, The David Davies Memorial Trophy, The
Raven Four, 1st.
Youth Orchestra
The High Sheriff Award, Ellesmere Senior Orchestra, 1st.
Choir
Youth Choir, The Peter Starbuck Cup, Ellesmere Lower School, 3rd. The Wilfred Owen
Cup, Ellesmere College Youth Choir, 3rd. The Matt Dewhirst Cup, Ellesmere College
Chamber Choir, 1st; Ellesmere College Chapel Choir, 2nd. The Hawksley Award, Aaron and
Kyara Heward, 1 st .
