"You had us by the short and curlies!"

As always, the first Saturday of the Eisteddfod proves to kick everything up into 3rd gear, and really starts to get the ball rolling. I feel our adjudicator has settled in, and found her stride with us, and everyone is really putting their all into everything they are delivering thus far.

Starting off the morning, two delightful little classes in the Piano Under 8s, and the Under 9s, which saw Lara Pimlott win the Under 8s for 'Chattanooga Choo-Choo' with a Distinction, and Renee Mitchell win the Under 9s with an Outstanding for her lovely performance of 'The Reef' by Carroll.  Following the pianists, the next two classes we had featured young vocalists, in the Vocal Solos Under 10 & Under 12 classes. Some promising singing here, although perhaps a few nerves here and there. Honestly, as a voice teacher I know that this is a delicate age, particularly around 11-12, for various reasons; new school situations, becoming a teenager, and if you sing, this is often when vocal transition starts to happen, which can leave singers somewhat confused, or even feeling betrayed by their voice! Trust me, this time will pass, and and vocal issues that exist now are merely temporary, especially if you have a good singing teacher! So the important thing is to learn how to interpret nerves. Fun fact for you all; your body does not know the difference physically between nervousness and excitement. It is your mind that decides which emotion you feel. So, if you can interpret those butterflies for what they are (surging adrenaline), and tell yourself that you are excited to perform, you'll find those 'nerves' start to disappear, and you can truly enjoy your music making!
- Some fine singing in this group, with Luella Gilligan taking the Under 10 class, and Florence Glynn-Riley taking the under 12s, both with Distinction. I did also think that Ruby-Jane Gill's laid back performance of 'Fly me to the Moon' showed real promise (a budding 'jazz singer' Nancy described her as), and I also thought that Eleanor Hopkins's voice has some real potential, as her top notes were beautiful!

L-R: Elliott Hearne, Imogen Hayman, Rachel Dawson (below), Ivy Paris-Smith

After the interval, we had in quick succession, several woodwind classes; the Orchestral Woodwind Duos/Trios/Quartets Junior School Age, and the Under 18 class, followed by the Orchestral Woodwind Open, as well as the Under 18. What was really lovely in this little section, was seeing students performing with their teachers, in a duet capacity, not just with the teacher as an accompanist. It's something I like to do as a teacher, perform duets with my students, as I feel it really helps the student understand their own musicianship better - also, it's really fun! Nice playing here which saw each winner receive Highly Commended for their efforts. Finishing the morning session, we had a really lovely class, in the Self-accompanied Under 18. Four superb singers in this class, each choosing to perform with guitar, which I felt really showcased each of their voices brilliantly. Some magical performances from all; Ivy Paris-Smith delivered a sincere performance of 'Writings on the Wall' with a gorgeous depths of tone to her voice, and Elliott Hearne's rendition of 'Autumn Leaves' had real understanding of the Jazz style, and was full of soul. Rachel Dawson delivered a spell-binding rendition of 'The Power of Love' - you could have heard a pin drop throughout her singing, although perhaps on this occasion, the finger-picking style of the guitar was just a little too delicate for the beau sejour stage. The Class winner was Imogen Hayman with a suitably laid-back performance of Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud'. I thought Imogen captured the feel of this song, and managed to find a great balance between delivering a well-known piece by a well-known artist, but injecting her own personality into it. Imogen took home the 'Tears in Heaven Award' with an Outstanding.

Starting off the afternoon, a slightly unusual class set of classes, as we had St Anne's School Alderney performing in the Choirs Secondary Age, and the Choirs Secondary 7-11 classes. BUT, the rest of the classes will actually take place later in the week. This has been organised in order to actually enable Alderney to perform without too much disruption for them with travel etc. I do think it's lovely that provisions have been made to make sure they can be included, however, it is shame they couldn't hear (and be heard by) the other choirs in the class - that's half the fun (and benefit!) of doing classes like this. However, a lovely performance from this school, but as the results will happen later in the week, I'll need to give those out later in the blog too! So, to be continued....

Following on we had Double Bass Under 16, and Under 18, both of which featured Alexandra Dorey. It has seemed in recent years like she's the only Double Bass player out there, which I'm sure isn't true! Lovely though her playing is, I'm sure it's a bit lonely always being the only person in the same classes year on year. So I hope there are some budding Double Bass players on their way up. Some lovely playing by Alexandra in both of these classes, for which she received a Distinction, and a Commended respectively. After two Orchestral Woodwind classes, the Under 14 which was won by Clementine Clynn-Riley for her performance of 'Lazy Sunday' by Cafolla, with Distinction, and the Under 16 which was won by Naomi Miller, performing 'City Life 3', receiving a Highly Commended, we continued the afternoon with the Cello Under 18, featured three fine cellists in Noah Purdue, Evie Hart, and Elisha Horsepool. I'm always a fan of well played cello, and if I'm honest, I felt that that marks didn't always reflect what the players deserved in this case. Just my opinion, but they felt a little low for what I heard as wonderful playing. But that's how the eisteddfod works, it's one persons opinion only, and you're never going to agree with everything! On the day, Noah Purdue was the winner, for his performance of Rondo in G Minor by Dvorak, for which he received a Distinction. The next class, the slightly unusual Voice & Instrument Open class. The only real rule surrounding this class is that the accompanying instrument cannot be piano (as there are separate voice & piano classes), which makes for some really interesting choices of ensemble, as we saw today with Rachel Dawson (on voice), and Alexandra Dorey on Double Bass, performing 'Memories' by Maroon 5 (A busy day for Alexandra!) A really interesting performance, for which they won the class with a Highly Commended Mark of 86. We rounded off the afternoon with two piano duet classes; the Piano Duet Under 15 class, which was won by Benjamin and Harry Childs, who performed and Outstanding rendition of 'Les Entretiens de la Belle et la Bete' by Ravel, and the Piano Duet Open class, which had a double win - Hannah Bourgaize & Martin Hassall as one pair, and Robyn Surcombe & James Henderson were the other, and both earned a Highly Commended result of 86. Luckily with duet piano classes, there are two trophies, so each pair gets a trophy this time!

The evening session proved to be rather amazing all round. We started off with the Folk Choirs Class, which featured four vastly different groups. It was great to see the Alderney Voices Community Choir again (and as Nancy Litten stated, it was great they had managed to 'make the hop' from Alderney to Guernsey, especially in the wild weather!). I thought perhaps they could had done with loosening up physically a little more, just so that their sound could be produced a little easier, but it was a lovely choice of music they performed, especially their second piece that featured an unusual choir with flute accompaniment arrangement. States of Harmony gave a typically energetic performance that we have come to expect from them, and I particularly enjoyed their piece 'Saint Patrick' which as Nancy said, had a real 'Irish' feel to it. Next up, something completely different, in The Crowband - Mark Le Gallez is a staple of the Guernsey music scene, so it was fabulous to see him with his band really performance something truly folk in style, and also Nancy praised them for this, as well as some wonderful duet singing. I would say, being picky, that technically this class is for choirs (which I believe in the rules is stated as 8 singers or more), and this band only had three. There is in fact a class that is for Folk Groups of up to 11 singers, and I think that perhaps this band would have been better placed there - or perhaps they were meant to be but something went wrong with the entries, or they got the classes mixed up, who knows! That's not to say I didn't love what they did, because I really did, BUT, a different adjudicator might have been far more stringent with the rules, and (as would be their right) could have disqualified them, which I never want for anyone. Happily, this did not happen, and the Crowband received great praise for their authentic style, and received a Highly Commended. Rounding off this class were The Accidentals, fresh from a trip away performing at the Mrs Sunderland Festival in Huddersfield. Delivering two completely contrasting pieces, the first a Welsh ballad 'Ar Hyd Nos', followed by a suitably rousing and intense rendition of 'Drunken Sailor', Nancy Litten praised them for exquisite singing, and technical skill which 'really had us all by the short and curlies!' They took the class win with an Outstanding mark of 90.

Sometimes you really do surprise yourselves!

Next up, the Pop Duet Over 18, fielding only one competitor in myself and Jo Marsh. This particular piece came about quite by accident, as my fiancé bought me a Bass Ukelele for my birthday, and after a glass or two of wine, Jo and I jammed out a jazzy version of 'Seven Nation Army' on said bass and with Jo on Ukulele. After the jam-session we decided that that was what we would do in the Eisteddfod this year, and that was that! Clearly, this is a good method of song selection for us, as we shocked ourselves by winning the class with an Outstanding Mark of 92, as well as being described  as 'classy cabaret' - I'll take that! Following on we had the Piano Film Solo Over 18. I do enjoy this class, as it's a chance to hear some of the amazing film music that gets written. I also enjoy this class because of the ever explosive performance we always get from John Morris. I've heard him perform 'Teddy Bear's Picnic' many times over the years, but there was something about it tonight that was magic - I feel like he let loose a little bit, and delivered, perhaps not the most technically accurate performance, but boy did that not matter because it was so joyous to listen to. He won the class with an Outstanding mark of 94, the highest mark so far!

Taking up the second half of the evening session, we had a truly fabulous class in the Mixed Voice Choirs O18 class. Four choirs on show, four completely different performances. First up, were The Accidentals, who by Nancy's words had 'really warmed up now', as they delivered what she described as 'some of the best singing she has ever heard.' I was also happy that she sort to praise my original piece of music, 'February' as well. Next up, no rest for me as I hopped off stage from The Accidentals, and stepped up in front of the Guernsey Glee Singers as their conductor. Honestly, I think this is the best they have ever sung, and I'm very proud of them - even more proud that they were praised for things that I've been working really hard to pull out of them; dynamic faces, good pitch and emphasis of words. Take note singers in a choir; your musical directors nag you because they know what you can do when you put your mind to it! So, listen to them and reap the rewards! Following the Glees, we had another performance from Alderney Voices Community Choir, who found the more open and relaxed sound I was wishing for them in the folk class. They seemed much more at ease, and I think they enjoyed their singing more this time too! Their performance of 'Alderney Anthem' in particular I think was really moving, and it's the best I have heard them performing it. Bravo! Closing out the evening, something completely different, The Liberate Rainbow Choir. What an amazing group this is! Fully colourful, fully engaging, and full of energy and commitment. I felt some of the audience didn't find MD Darren Alderton's little speech about the lack of equality in the island necessary, but I heartily disagree. The fact is, we don't have full equality yet, for gender, sexuality, disability... we have a long way to go. Music is the universal truth that says things that words simply cannot express, and I challenge anyone to see and hear this choir perform and not be moved and inspired. Their first outing at the Eisteddfod, they joyously received an Outstanding mark of 90, but were pipped to the win by The Accidentals who won with 94 marks, equalling the highest mark of the festival thus far.

I have come away from this evening on a complete high - incredible music making happening this year, and some truly magical moments.

The Rainbow Chorus