Festival success

AUDIENCES turned out in force to support both the junior and senior concerts of the Gorleston St. Andrew's 38th Competitive Festival last weekend - and witnessed the awarding of the trophies.

On each occasion the appreciative listeners were treated to a variety of musical items, including orchestral and ensemble playing, solo instrumentalists, choirs and solo singers, drama and poetry.

The Senior Concert was held in the Chapter House, St. Andrew's Church, Gorleston

on Friday evening and was compered by Sheila Pascall, joint co-ordinator of the festival. The trophies and medals were presented by Marie Hartley, the Culture, Sport and Leisure Manager for the borough council. Gwen Taylor presented Emma Girling with the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy, which is given each year to the competitor who has entered the most classes and received the highest grades.

This year's introduction of instrumental folk music into the festival syllabus proved a great success as the Tutti Ceilidh Band brought the evening to a rousing, foot-tapping close with a selection of Irish jigs.

The Mayor and Mayoress, Paul and Lisa Garrod, attended the Harold Taylor Junior concert held at Lynn Grove High School on Saturday afternoon and the Mayor presented the trophies and medals to the winning competitors at the end of the first half of the concert. Tony Mallion, the popular presenter from BBC Radio Norfolk, expertly compered the event.

The final event of the Festival took place at the Chapter House on Saturday evening, when advanced competitors played to achieve the Bircham Trophy and Award of Festival Musician of the Year in front of a panel of three professional adjudicators, Vivianne Ronchetti, Jonathan Beatty and chairman of the panel, Kenneth Hytch.

Margaret Jermany, chairman of the Festival Committee, introduced and guided the evening's proceedings, which began with a recorder recital by Philippa Austin, winner of the Festival Intermediate Recital Award.

She said: “This new Award was included in this year's syllabus to provide a stepping stone towards the Advanced Recital Award and candidates of grades five and six were eligible to enter with a programme of three works or movements of a total of ten to twelve minutes duration.”

The main event of the evening took place with the six contestants for the Bircham Award.

Emma Girling (recorder) began with Bach's Gavotte en Rondeau from Partita 111, then Jennifer Youngs (flute), accompanied by Terry Cunnane, played the first movement of the Sonata in G minor by Bach. Next to perform was Philippa Austin (recorder) who played two movements from Handel's Sonata in G minor, followed by Andrew Greenwood (piano) with October: Chant d'automne by Tchaikovsky. The two final competitors were Sophie Burditt (violin), who was accompanied by Ann Brooks and played the theme from Schindler's List, then Andrew Philpot (cornet), who played The Nightingale by Moss, with accompanist Ruth Harrison.

The presentations of the various awards were made by John Harvey, President of the Gorleston Rotary Club, and his wife, Jane.

Trophies won :-

Junior Concert

Ormesby Village Junior School Orchestra - Junior Orchestra Cup

Ormesby Junior Strings - Junior String Ensemble Shield

The Calver Family - Evie, Ian and Maxim - Distinction

Reydon Primary and Tutti Penny Whistlers - Outstanding

Fleggburgh Primary School Choir - Talbot Happy Cup

Bircham/Recital Evening

Philippa Austin, Intermediate Recital Winner with Mrs. Vera Ward

Bircham finalists with Mr. Dal Dewgarde (L to R Jennifer Youngs, Emma Girling, Sophie Burditt, Dal Dewgarde, Andrew Greenwood, Philippa Austin, Andrew Philpot.

Andrew Greenwood, Festival Musician of the Year

Senior Concert

Matthew Taylor, St. Andrew's Brass Cup

Great Yarmouth Junior Brass - Consort Cup

Tutti Ceilidh Band - Outstanding

Emma Girling, Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy winner, with Mrs. Gwen Taylor

Photographs taken at all three events plus those taken at the Piano Workshop last November will be on view at the Chapter House on Saturday, 5 April between 10am-2pm.

ends