So Long, Farewell....

Last day of the Music Eisteddfod 2016, and even though the music section was winding down, the musical excellence and energy most certainly was not!

Joseph Tom and Jacob Mauger

We started the morning with the Piano Under 12, followed by the Viola Under 14. The adjudicator Peter Hewitt has remarked a few times how much he likes the Viola's sound. And I agree with him! The Viola, as an instrument, is often forgotten about (or made fun of), but it's tone is beautiful, and as an ensemble instrument it provides much needed 'cement' in the overall sound. It's clear to see why Peter Hewitt wanted to encourage Viola players to stick with it. I don't think he'll have a problem with this class of students though, as there was already some great quality playing to be heard. Next was the Vocal Boys Solo 10 and Under 12. Only two young lads in this class, but what a high standard of class it was! Jacob Mauger was performing in his first ever Eisteddfod class, accompanying himself on the ukulele - an unusual sight for this type of class. Jacob has a lovely voice, and I really hope he continues to sing more, as there is some wonderful potential there. Top class singing, with both performers receiving Highly Commended, Joseph Tom was the trophy winner on this occasion with his suitably dramatic song 'Windy Weather' by Lin Marsh. Finishing off the morning session we were treated to two more solo instrumental classes: the Instrumental Concerto, and the Orchestral Woodwind Under 14, both excellent! The Concerto class is an interesting one, as the instrumental performer would normally perform with an orchestra, but at occasions like the Eisteddfod, the orchestra is replaced by a pianist, which is an incredibly hard job! The adjudicator was quick to praise the 'orchestras' on their fantastic and supportive playing for these young soloists. A wonderful class this was, showcasing the talents of young oboists Annabelle Pizzey and Jack Tostevin-Hall, and violinist Charlie Brewin. On this occasion it was Jack Tostevin-Hall who won the class with a Distinction.

Kicking off the final afternoon session we had two high-class young performers in the Piano Sonata Under 18. A class I used to participate in, I can tell you, this is a difficult one, as the choice of repertoire is most definitely challenging! Both Jack Colley and Francois Cloete performed superbly, showcasing great and promising skills for the future. Continuing on we had the Vocal Girls & Boys 12 and Under 15 - it does seem a little strange to me that this is class for boys AND girls: the vocal classes are combined at Under 8, then they separate for Under 10 and Under 12 classes, and are suddenly back together for the Under 15, before separating back out for the Under 18.... particularly at this age, for me, it's a difficult one to judge vocally. All voices at this age go through a vocal transition, boys more prominently, and I do wonder whether the boys should have a separate class. Perhaps the combination of boys and girls for this class is purely because a lot of boys at this age maybe don't want to perform? I'm not entirely sure, it just intrigues me - Anyway, it certainly doesn't take away from the quality of the singing, as this was a lovely class, overall won by Ellie Evans. Next we had two classes which compete for the same trophy, the Orchestral Woodwind Under 16 & Under 18. Dominated by oboes this year, it's great to see excellent teaching for this instrument. It's a particular instrument which, when played well is stunning and evocative, but can take a lot of time and skill before reaching the 'played well' bracket. One performer who certainly deserves a mention for his fabulous playing is Jack Tostevin-Hall, who won the Under 18 (and thus, the trophy) with a stunningly played Sonata, achieving and Oustanding mark. Finishing off the afternoon, several more 'popular' styles of music, in the forms of the Piano Jazz Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 (all competing for the Birch Trophy), and the Self-Accompanied Under 18. Some quality performing in these classes, with Jack Colley winning the Jazz trophy with excellent interpretations of Gershwin, and Jude Wegerer winning the Self-Accompanied with a Tim Minchin song 'Not Perfect'.

Sarah Tennant with the
Longmire Baton

The final session of the music festival, Saturday evening. Reading the programme, you knew we were in for a night of great music making, but I'm pretty sure no-one was expecting quite what we got!
- Before I talk about the performances, I'd like to talk first about the Special Awards that are given out on the final night of the Eisteddfod. Peter Hewitt made comment before awarding on how we are very lucky to have such high quality music making, across all instruments, genres and age brackets. He went on to say how wonderful the community spirit is here, and talked about the islands love of music, and that we need to "desperately hold on it for as long as possible" - I really hope this is a message that spreads like wildfire thorough the island, because he's right. We make music in Guernsey, and we do it damn well, and we need to continue this tradition, and continue to support, nurture and improve!

Marilyn Pugh with the June
Bourget Trophy

Lots of well-deserved winners for these awards - I'm very pleased for Elizabeth Beacom winning the Peter A Malley Trophy for her contribution, in all forms, to the Eisteddfod this year. Sarah Tennant won the Longmire Baton for conducting, which was wonderful to see, as she has done incredible work with the musicians from St Sampsons High School. My mother (Marilyn Pugh) also collected the June Bourget Trophy for Most Outstanding Choir, this year awarded to 'The Accidentals', and I was really pleased that the Music Centre Chamber Strings were awarded the most memorable performance for their performance on Tuesday Night (in the Orchestral Open Class). The list of all the Special Award winners can be found by following this link: http://guernseyeisteddfodmusic.blogspot.com/p/special-awards.html


Musically, the music stated quite low-key (in a way), with the Brass Solo Open, contested only by Arton Hockaday. A lovely small class to behold, with Arton showing us the wonderful musical capabilities of the Trombone. Next, things took a slight humorous turn as we saw two excellent pianists (Jack and Laura Colley) ushered onto the stage by a storm trooper in order to play their Open Piano Duet, "Cantina Band from Star Wars". One of the most memorable performances I have to say, which quite rightly earned them an outstanding 90 Marks - Laura did say to me that they nearly pulled out of the class, because they were under-rehearsed.... hmmm, not sure Laura's definition of 'under-rehearsed' is the same as mine! Following the duet class was the Piano Solo Over 18 for Film/TV themes. Another class which treated the audience to well-known musical themes played superbly - John Morris performed 'Teddy Bear's Picnic', being praised for this technical theatrics, whilst Marilyn Pugh "really made the piano really sing" (in Peter Hewitt's words) with her 'Remembrance Theme' from Schindler's List. A most outstanding class, John Morris took home the trophy with 90 marks.

Jack and Laura Colley, with their Storm Trooper

Finally, we got to the turning point of the evening: The Novelty Song Class. New this year, this class is for songs and pieces that don't fit anywhere else. I myself performed in this class with a piece written for Toy Piano, written by a friend of mine from America, Calvin Hitchcock - perhaps not the 'funniest' song I've ever done, but it certainly ticked the novelty box, and I'm very pleased to have been able to perform new music (quite literally, it was written in 2015) at the Eisteddfod, and enable my friend across to pond to put an 'international premiere' on his CV! Highlights for me from the rest of this class have to include Lindsey Veillard swanning out on stage dressed as a carrot (yes, you read that correctly), and Elaine Chapman's delightfully innocent (well... most of it) rendition of "Health And Safety". In particular, Elaine's sense of comedic timing is second to none, she just really knows how to hit the audience with a comedy gem and hold them until she's ready to continue! On this occasion however, it was Julie Tostevin's "It would Never have Worked" by Victoria Wood which stole the show, and was awarded the trophy, presented for the first time by Rodney Collenette. The final class of this years Eisteddfod was (as it has been for a few years now) The Corporate Class - designed as a class to encourage companies and groups that might not ordinarily perform to get up and have a go, this class has become a festival highlight. The Fire Department pulled out all the stops (and pulled off nearly all their clothes) and we were roaring with laughter at their expertly choreographed "If I were a fireman" - I must say, it wasn't all about the humour, there are some excellent musical voices in our fire department!.... And I'm pretty sure that's the first time the Eisteddfod's seen a bare bum on stage! Bravo! A well deserved win indeed!
- and there is in fact a very sneakily filmed video, which you can watch here (but don't say I didn't warn you!): https://www.facebook.com/GuernseyFireAndRescueService/videos/739473226154542/

We thought the class was over.... it wasn't - the theatre was suddenly 'alive with the sound of music...' and the curtains rolled back for us to see Fran Bourget, the executive officer of the eisteddfod and all her helpers onstage about to perform a final number - a medley of songs from "The Sound of Music", with cleverly re-written words. With Fran retiring from her position of executive officer this year, handing over the reigns to Katherine Wegerer, it was a delightful way to say 'So long, farewell' to Fran, and for us as the audience to applaud her for all her hard work over the last 12 years (and yes, they did get me, I did have a little cry about it!). Feeling much the same sentiment, Peter Hewitt decided to award the final Special Award, The Adjudicator's Cup to Fran Bourget, for all her hard work over the last 12 years. A fitting end to a brilliant day, and indeed, a brilliant festival.

So, that's it for another year! I hope everyone who has entered this year has had success, joy, learned from their experience and is raring to go for next year! See you all in 2017!

The true spirit of the Eisteddfod - never being afraid to have a go (and if needs be, wearing silly outfits!)