A New Bell for a New Year

We are off and running for the Guernsey Music Eisteddfod 2017! My word, doesn't it feel like it's come round quickly this year?! And with this new year comes some change, as the executive officer role of the festival has been handed over the Katherine Wegerer. And with this new officer, has come a new bell! Those of you who have ever performed at the Eisteddfod know you have to 'wait for the bell', which has very much changed pitch this year. So, do not be alarmed! I know it's the little things that can throw you in a performance!

The afternoon session (and start of the festival) kicked off with the Under 18 Piano Sonata class, with only one competitor, Sapphire Brewer-Marchant. It's an incredibly nerve-wracking thing to do, open a festival, let alone as the solo competitor of the class, and I think Sapphire managed any nervous energy very well. There's a lot of promising control about her playing (as expressed by our adjudicator, Adrian Goss), and I highly commend her for playing from memory as well. Next we had the Vocal Solo, Boys and Girls Under 15. This is a difficult age bracket to be singing in, it must be said, as the adolescent voice is going through tremendous changes, something which Adrian touched on in his feedback to these young singers. My personal thoughts on this class was that there is a lot of great potential here. In particular, I thought class winner Louise Madden showed excellent promise with her voice. It is worth mentioning at this point, that Adrian Goss has exceptional knowledge as a vocalist and singing teacher (amongst his many skills and qualifications), and I feel the singers of the Island are in for a real treat when it comes to feedback. During the Vocal Solo class we, the audience as well as the performers, were treated to a mini-master class on posture, support, and vocal fold adduction (aka; how to get rid of breathiness for any of you who are not singers). It was a joy for me, as a singing teacher to hear someone with many years more experience and much more professional clout than me re-iterating things I say and teach frequently in my own studio: my favourite of which is how 'Twang' and 'Nasality' are very much not the same thing! Adrian made an excellent point, in that a festival like the Guernsey Eisteddfod is an excellent platform for performers, and especially young performers, to explore and develop their skills, and that it is also a chance for a music professional to give back advice that everyone can take away from the experience.

The Self-Accompanied Class (under 18) is certainly a show of multi-tasking skill, which the three performers in this class achieved very well. All guitarists, I think it's worth mentioning (from my point of view) that perhaps a little more care needs to be spent on tuning the guitar 100% accurately, or making sure that a capo, when used, is correctly placed. That said, each performer showed great command of both of their instruments (guitar and voice), and there was no issue of balance between them, which can so often be the major problem with self-accompaniment. Rachel Dawson, who won the class with a Highly Commended showed-off her excellent ability to emote within a song, and was certainly the highlight of the class for me. The afternoon was rounded off by a vast array of young violinists int he Under 14 Violin class, followed by an impressive selection of Guernsey's Secondary School Choirs

Onto the Evening Session, which opened with the Over 18's Male Voice Choirs Class, singularly contested by the Guernsey Welsh Male Voice Choir. This choir have gone through some changes recently, most apparently a sudden change in conductor, which meant the choir decided to perform, but not be 'marked' - essentially, a non-competitive entry. Adrian was very complimentary of the choir, citing their team spirit and excellent potential. Amongst some small criticisms regarding ends of words and overall blend of voices, Adrian made an excellent 'tongue-in-cheek' remark about how 'Highly Re-Commended' they were!

Next we were onto one of the 'big-gun' classes of the festival, the Over 18 Piano Repertoire Class. Featuring some suitably well-known 'big gun' performers from the Island, this was a meaty class of piano skill and showmanship. What was very apparent in this class was how different each of the four performers are. There is somewhat of a spectrum which relates to musical skill which, I find, is much more apparent in pianists, and that spectrum ranges from the 'Mechanical Wizard' of technical excellence, but without musical soul, to the passionate and emotional performer who is lacking in the technical skill. Happy to say, that no-one in this class falls into either of the extremes on this spectrum, but it's worth mentioning because, what decides what is the best performance? Is it the absolute accuracy at the expense of musicality? Or is it the musicality at the expense of the accuracy? Personally, I prefer the latter, and I believe our adjudicator this year is very much in that camp as well. Happy to say, my mother Marilyn Pugh, who will admit that her performance was not technically perfect, showcased her musical understanding to the best degree to win the class.

Jo Marsh and Charlotte Harwick with their trophies
from the Vocal Duet Over 18's Class

We were then treated to two very different vocal classes; The Old Familiar Class, followed by the Vocal Duet Over 18s. Again, it was clear in both of these classes that musicality, passion and emotion were the overriding factor to excellence. I am very pleased for Stephen Keenan in his triumph in the Old Familiar Class, with his fabulously spirited rendition of 'The Floral Dance' (a wonderful tribute to the late Terry Wogan). Stephen's voice has developed wonderfully these last few years, and I very much look forward to hearing him develop further. The Vocal Duet Class was contested by only one pair; Charlotte Hardwick and Jo Marsh. This was a lovely class, particularly for me, as I teach Charlotte, and Jo is my nearest and dearest friend. I have always felt that Charlotte's voice reminds me of Jo's when Jo and I were much younger, and it was a joy to finally hear them working together as a pair. The balance was wonderful, and they really showcased their ability to express the music of the well-known 'Flower Duet', earning themselves the trophies and a Highly Commended 85.

Following on from the vocal classes, we had an amazing Brass Solo from James Hatton, followed by the Over 18's Voice and Piano Class, before moving on to the rather epic final class of the night, the Operatic Solo Over 18s. A class contested entirely of 'Diva's (aka: Sopranos), this certainly was an amazing showcase of vocal ability. I think praise needs to go to Charlotte Hardwick for her first venture into the Operatic Class, having only recently become old enough to move up from the under 18's section. In a class of well established Soprano singers, she held her own and was praised by the adjudicator for her fine developing voice. It was Jo Marsh who excelled in this class, earning herself a Distinction mark of 89 for 'Magda's Aria' by Menotti. Jo really immersed herself into the character and performance of this piece, and, although not technically perfect, it was so well performed that it really did not matter. Many congratulations Jo.

Overall, an excellent start to what I hope will be an excellent Music Festival. It's clear that we have an adjudicator who is very passionate about music, and who very much wants to impart help and wisdom to all, not just to those who are performing. Although, if I had one critique thus far, it is that perhaps he needs to get his time-keeping in check, as I'm not sure I (or he!) can stay at the theatre past 11pm every night this week! That said, the feedback given is really valuable and interesting. So, to everyone performing, and those of you attending only to watch: we have a lot of knowledge on offer, so soak in as much as you can!