The morning session started with three string classes, Viola Under 9, followed by the Double Bass Under 16 and the Double Under 18. Three classes of a good standard, with each competitor receiving a Highly Commended. Elizabeth talked about how difficult the Double Bass is as an instrument, and particularly a solo instrument - we kind of forget about it a little bit, as it's often tucked away at the back of an orchestra, but the bass is a vitality important instrument in any ensemble. Elizabeth praised the young bass players in particular for their fine playing, and encouraged them to continue their development. The winners of each class were Chloe Hodgson for the Viola Under 9, Alexandra Dorey for the Double Bass Under 16, and Natasha Luggar for the Double Bass Under 18. Next I want to talk about the three vocal classes of the morning: the Vocal Boys and Girls Under 8, the Vocal Boys and Girls Under 10, and slightly later in the program the Folk Solo Under 12 - Three classes which really, I think, demonstrated really fine singing, and a great start for these young singers in their development. It also shows tremendous courage, as many people would consider getting up on stage to sing solo to a huge hall of people incredibly daunting, but each of these performers handle this so well - a few nerves floating around in some, but this is the type of experience that will help you grow. You never get rid of nerves - you just learn how to hide/deal with them more efficiently! Some lovely repertoire as well in these classes. In particular I really enjoyed Under 10 winner Hannah Smith's 'London Birds', and Folk Song winner Isabelle Lees' 'Lil Liza Jane' - it's great to hear Isabelle's voice developing so well, and her confidence shining through in every performance. A well deserved Distinction as well, good job Izzy!
Next we had the Piano Under 14 class. I remember this class well, as this was the first Eisteddfod trophy I ever won, and I remember being incredibly shocked to even be in the top 3 for that class! It's a tricky age, I think, around 12-14 for music making, as there are so many factors that can really weigh down on a young persons want to or love of making music. The repertoire doesn't really help either - I remember being about 11/12 and hating learning my grade 4 piano pieces, because they were just that little bit more difficult, but not fun or interesting enough for me to want to play them! That's why I think it's wonderful to see such good playing in this age category, and some lovely repertoire being explore. I think this is a credit to the teachers as much as it is the students, so well done all! I personally really enjoyed Benjamin Childs' 'Scherzo in B Flat by Schubert, and I think Ben is really starting to blossom into a wonderful musician. The class winner on this occasion with a Distinction mark was Christie Sykes for her piece 'Black Eyes'.
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| The Phillippe siblings, winners of the Family Class |
The afternoon began with more string classes, this time the Cello Under 14, and Cello Under 16. What struck me most when watching this class was just how difficult the repertoire these players are tackling is! I'm a cellist myself, and I remember playing 'Allegro Appassionato' for my Grade 8 piece when I was 18.... this was being played (and better than I ever played it, I might add) in the Under 14 class!! There was some wonderful cello playing being developed in these classes - I personally thing Benjamin Childs is developing into a fine cellist, and Archie Perdue is really tackling insanely difficult repertoire for someone so young. I do want to make a small point to the audience though - SIT ON YOUR HANDS! Please try not too be too keen to clap! There was just a moment in the middle of Archie's performance where there was a beat of silence between sections, and I could just hear a few who wanted to clap because they thought it was finished - don't rely on what you hear, watch the performer! You'll know when they've finished, as their body language (and that of their accompanist as well) will change - hold back on the clapping, let them finish their piece entirely! Anyway, back to talking about the music, there Under 16's class fielded two unaccompanied pieces; a classic piece of Bach performed by Evie Hart, and a more unusual piece 'Sailing Down the River' by Minsky, performed by Elisha Horsepool. There is something quite magical about unaccompanied cello, it just holds such presence, and I thought both of these performers handle their pieces incredibly well. Elizabeth also reiterated to this class of students how important practicing your scales are - it's something music teachers bang on about to all their students, and with good reason! I know I was rubbish at practicing my scales, but my playing improved immensely when I actually did start practicing them - there's also so many ways in which to practice, and ways to wrap your head around them so they all make sense - so listen to teacher people, and make scales an important part of your practice.... that goes for singers too, by the way! In the end, the winners of each class were Benjamin Childs for the Under 14, and Noah Purdue for the Under 16.
The next two classes were the Vocal Boys 15 & Under 18 followed by the Vocal Girls 15 & Under 18. Once again, our young singers showing their calibre, as the quality of each of these pieces was wonderful. Sebastian Hazzan in the Boy class, in particular showed such promise in his developing vocal quality, which Elizabeth picked up on. Those Low F's are fabulous Sebastian - I'm sure you'll be in much demand as a bass in choirs if you continue to develop your voice, which I really hope you do. The standard of singing the girls class was equally high, with each of the girls receiving Distinction or higher! I particularly thought Louise Madden showed what a beautiful voice she is developing, and I look forward to hearing more from her. My own personal opinion, which is in no way a discredit to the two girls who performed the song, because they were both wonderful - I'm just not convinced that 'The song of the Nightclub Proprietress' is the right song for Under 18s to be singing - I don't even think it's right for Under 30s to be singing. It's just my view, that a song about an old and disgruntled nightclub singer really is best suited to someone, well, older! But again, I reiterate, both girls performed this with such character, it's just my own disconnect I feel from seeing someone so young perform a song I equate with older singers - perhaps a bit of ageing up makeup and costume would do the trick, like in the Songs from the Shows? But anyway, a well deserved Outstanding mark for Ivy Botzenhardt, who I think has been singing so well this Eisteddfod, so I was pleased to see her win something today!
- The final classes of the afternoon, another set of choral classes; Choirs Secondary Years 7-11, followed by the Madrigal & Part Song Secondary Age, which again showed the highest calibre of choral singing, with the Guernsey Music Centre winning both classes; the Intermediate Choir in the first, and the Youth Choir in the Madrigals class.
Starting the evening session, almost expectedly now, was a rescheduled piano class, the Piano Repertoire Over 18. The repertoire class is similar to the class superieure, in that the performer needs to showcase at least two pieces, however the difference here is that the pieces do not need to be contrasting in terms of time period. Repertoire could be a set of pieces by one composer, or a variety from one specific time period, or perhaps even by nationality! It really is up to the performer on this one! Some wonderful repertoire showcased in this class, with Marilyn Pugh performing pieces by Petrocokino, and also Poulenc, and Bob Perkins performing a wider variation of pieces from Hengeveld, Grandos, and my personal favourite, Debussy. Once again these two pianists showed their calibre, with Marilyn taking the win this time with 86 marks. The next class, Male Voice Choirs Over 18 featured the Guernsey Welsh Male Voice Choir, under the direction of their new conductor Fiona LeTissier. I must say, I've always enjoyed the Guernsey Welsh Boys, as they've always had a great blended sound, but I've always found myself wanting a little more impact from them, the 'wall of sound' that is so often equated with male voice choirs. Boy did they deliver that tonight! Such incredible impact and range of dynamics in this, and their middle piece entirely in welsh was beautiful and so well explained by Fiona before performing, which I think allowed the audience to connect with the piece just that little bit more. Unsurprisingly, they won themselves the trophy with an Outstanding mark of 90 - bravo boys!
The other three classes of the evening were all vocal in nature; the Vocal Self-accompanied Over 18, Vocal Duet Over 18, and finally the Pop Song Over 18. Three great classes of such amazing variety, and really quality standard. Elizabeth talked about how it was wonderful to hear a self-accompanied class, as it's not something she's ever seen before - a class unique to Guernsey it would seem! She talked about how what she was looking for was excellent singing, excellent playing of the instrument, balanced between the instruments, and also an emotional connection delivered through facial expressions.... not much then?! Self-accompaniment is something which really does take a lot of practice to be able to do everything that's expected... and then deliver it on the day! It's also a really great chance to test yourself, like Jo Marsh, who has only been playing guitar since September, so bravo Jo for getting up and challenging yourself with something new! On this occasion, it was I won the class with an Outstanding mark of 90 for my version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' - little did I know this is actually Elizabeth's favourite song! It was also a very popular choice, as two other competitors performed the same song in their own way in the Pop Song Over 18 - I said to Elizabeth that she was going to hear three completely different versions of the song, and I wasn't wrong! The Pop Song Class, always well represented, and of a high standard, was a wonderful way to finish off the evening. We had so much variety of popular music in this class, from the punchy belters of Adele, through some soaring belt of Celine Dion, to some tender classics such as 'Sometimes When we Touch', which was performed last in the class by Victor Richer, "A beautiful sentiment to end the evening", Elizabeth said, which I wholly agree with. A very high standard of singing, which saw myself and Jo Marsh equal 2nd with 90 marks, and Julie Tostevin winning the class with 91 marks for her beautiful rendition of 'I Can't Make you Love me' - Jooles really had the crowd in the palm of her hand with this one, such a well deserved win.
A wonderful day of music, in which we celebrated the growth and evolution of, in particular, our young musicians - long may we continue to nurture and produce such wonderful music!
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