“This year was my favourite Oswestry Youth Music Festival” – the words of a school music teacher and conductor after students hit the right note with judges in another excellent showing.
The festival, in its 47th year, saw a record 525 entries involving about 1,000 young musicians from 40 schools across Shropshire and North Wales – with Ellesmere College collecting 20 first places.
But Tony Coupe, Director of Music at Ellesmere College, said it was the spirit of the festival that made it particularly stand out this year, which bred confidence and brought out the best in everyone.
He said: “The atmosphere this year was so encouraging – powerful performances with adjudicators who were passionate advocates for youth music, encouraging young people to take part and express themselves.
“It was a delight to see the care and support that our students show, not just to one another, but also in supporting students from other schools.
“A great performance of music connects with the audience, expressing something that can move the listener – when Olivia and Isobel Philbin performed My Love My Life, from Mamma Mia two, many people were swept up in the moment – the voices grew in intensity, resonance and emotion leaving half the audience and one of the girls in tears.
“The thought that young people can produce this kind of moment is awe-inspiring – sometimes performances transcend the process of adjudication in a festival.
“It was such a memorable festival and a privilege to see our students performing with joy and demonstrating such bravery and skill. Young people are inspiring!”
To accommodate the higher number of entries this year, organisers added an extra evening to the festival, running from February 27 to March 2 with the finals’ concert taking place the following day at Christ Church.
The festival featured 88 competitive classes ranging from solo instrumental and vocal to orchestras, rock bands, choirs and musical theatre ensembles, and five new classes were introduced this year for singers aged 13 and under.
Over 120 students from Ellesmere College took part in the festival festival, both as soloists and within ensembles, aged from eight to 18.
There were rock bands performing songs by the Killers and Evanescence to instrumental ensembles performing In the Hall of the Mountain King and Crocodile Rock; and from choirs performing Bridge Over Troubled Water and Frozen Heart to a huge range of musical theatre and classical music solos.
Mr Coupe added: “Anyone thinking of taking part in a music festival, my advice would be to absolutely go for it.
“You get the opportunity to get valuable performing experience and get quality feedback – it is well worth it.”
For more information about music at Ellesmere College visit the website https://www.ellesmere.com/the-schools/all/clubs-and-societies/the-arts/music/
Results
CHOIRS
Ellesmere College Chamber Choir Youth Choir 21 and Under 1st
Ellesmere College Chapel Choir Youth Choir 21 and Under 2nd
Ellesmere College Youth Choir Youth Choir 16 and Under 1st
Ellesmere College Lower School Choir Youth Choir 11 and Under 3rd
Ellesmere Voices Vocal Ensemble 21 and Under 2nd
Ellesmere College KS2 Musical Theatre Group Musical Theatre 12 and Under 2nd
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES
Ellesmere College Senior Orchestra Youth Orchestra 25 and Under 1st
Ellesmere College String Ensemble Chamber Music Ensemble 18 and Under 1st
Ellesmere College GCSE Ensemble Instrumental Ensemble 15 and Under 1st
Ellesmere College Lower School Band Instrumental Ensemble 15 and Under 2nd
Ellesmere College Lower School Band Instrumental Ensemble 12 and Under 2nd
Porthmere Windband Windband 25 and Under 1st
Lower School Ensemble Year 6 Percussion Ensemble 12 and Under 1st
Lower School Recorder Ensemble Recorder Ensemble 12 and Under 1st
The Small Furry Animals Rock Bands 18 and Under 2nd
Project 7 Rock Bands 18 and Under 3rd
SOLO CLASSES
Leanne Hickson Vocal Solo Classical 18 and Under 2nd
Leanne Hickson Musical Theatre 18 and Under 1st
Sophia Janahi Musical Theatre 18 and Under 2nd
Chloe Hart Vocal Solo Test Piece 11 and Under 2nd
Florence Hughes Vocal Solo Classical 11 and Under 1st
Tom Ford Musical Theatre 11 and Under 3rd
Douglas Dean Vocal Solo Classical 13 and Under 2nd
Henry Hughes and Isabella New Vocal Solo Classical 13 and Under Joint 3rd
Henry Hughes Vocal Solo Pop 13 and Under 1st
Douglas Dean Vocal Solo Pop 13 and Under 2nd
Henry Hughes Musical Theatre 13 and Under 1st
Eva Ford Musical Theatre 13 and Under 2nd
Isobel Philbin Musical Theatre 13 and Under 3rd
Isobel Philbin Vocal Solo Classical 15 and Under 3rd
Kiri Kilgannon Vocal Solo Pop 15 and Under 3rd
Nathaniel Clewlow Musical Theatre 15 and Under 1st
Isobel Philbin Traditional Folk Song 15 and Under 1st
Henry Hughes and Nina Fisher Vocal Duet 15 and Under 2nd
Florence Hughes and VV Alkureishi Vocal Duet 15 and Under 3rd
Sophia Janahi Vocal Solo 2 Pieces 21 and Under 2nd
Sophia Janahi Opera 21 and Under 2nd
Freddy Bullen and Sophia Janahi Vocal Duet 21 and Under 2nd
Alex Hu String Solo 15 and Under 2nd
Kyara Heward String Solo 18 and Under 3rd
Kyara Heward and Aaron Heward Piano Duet 21 and Under 1st
Lottie Philbin Vocal Solo Own Choice 9 and Under 1st
Trixie Oakes Vocal Solo Own Choice 9 and Under 2nd
Henry Hughes and Kit Fisher Instrumental Duet 15 and Under 1st
Alex Hu and Lucinda Bound Instrumental Duet 15 and Under 3rd
Kit Fisher Tuned Percussion 15 and Under Exhibition Class
Kit Fisher Drum Kit Solo 12 and Under 1st
Kit Fisher Drum Kit Solo 15 and Under 1st
Kit Fisher Drum Kit with Backing Track 15 & Under 2nd
Freddie Heasmer-Jones Drum Kit Solo 18 and Under 1st
Henry Hughes Brass Solo 18 and Under 2nd
