The first Friday morning session started with, an ever delightful presentation in the Infant School Age Music Making Class, contested by Acorn House from ECJS, who produced a wonderful performance called 'Soundscapes', creating wonderful sounds and conjuring imagary, and having fun while doing it. They won their class with a Distinction. Continuing the morning, we had the Violin Under 9, followed by the Brass Solo Under 12. In each of these instances, I always feel this is a wonderful display of young music making, but also shows the wonderful care and guidance these musicians are getting from the teachers of the island. Ben Costello's feedback for the violinists was focused on watching their intonation and rhythmic control, but also praising them for the confidence they were displaying. The winner on this occasion was Florence Torode, playing 'The Two Roses' for the Under 9 Violins, and for the Under 12 Brass it was Emily Le Page with 'If I were a Rich Man' - both received Highly Commended. Before the interval, we were treated to a lovely arrangement of our local anthem, 'Sarnia Cherie, arranged by Nicole Wyatt for the Melrose String Ensemble for the Orchestra, Band, Ensemble Junior School Age class. Ben continued his positive feedback for the young musicians, speaking about the fundamental technique of posture, including feet position and well as the hands (we often lose track of what our feet are doing!). He also spoke about producing different articulations and dynamics, and spoke highly of how well the players are using the full length of the bow. Melrose were awarded Highly Commended for their performance.
Continuing the morning, we had a beautiful performance by Le Rondin School in the Choirs Special Needs: Junior School Age. Every year, this is one of the most wonderful classes to witness - the joy expressed on stage, the commitment, the incredibleness that is Juanita Bryne playing, singing, signing and engaging the children, and most tellingly for me, the communication - some of these performers are non-verbal, except for when they sing, and it just reiterates the absolute power that music has for everyone. Well done to all the staff at Le Rondin for putting together this beautiful performance. Rounding off the morning session we had the Pop Song Under 12 - always a popular class, both in participant and audience attendance, we had a lovely mix of repertoire on display from our young singers. Ben gave constructive feedback to these singers, particularly noting 'cursive singing', which for those of you who don't know is essentially when a singer chooses to pull/distort/morph the vowel sounds produced (Adele and Selena Gomez are notorious for using it). Whilst it is an effective tool for the contemporary singer, it's very easy to overuse it, so this is something for all developing singers to consider. From my own personal feedback, for singer reading this, I am spotting a lot of what I call negative tension, particularly in the form of a lot of explosive breath at the end of phrases, which isn't really necessary - breathing is easy, you've been doing it your whole life, relax and sing with energy, not effort. Particular highlights from this class for me included Lara Pimlott's expressive connection with her song, Bea Wilson's beautifully developing vocal tone and control, and Harriet Lord's amazing confidence for such a young performer. A tough one to call it seemed for Ben this morning, and I'm sure everyone in the audience had their own favourite, but on this occasion he decided to award the trophy jointly to Lottie Colmer, and Jacob Morgan. Well done to them, and to everyone in this class.
The afternoon session began with the Viola Under 14 & Under 16 classes, and yet more fine string playing from our older Violists. Some bold choices of music being made here, including the likes of Libestraum by Liszt, and lots of strong Bach pieces. Winners for these classes were Lily Hurrell for the Under 14, and Eva Hurrell for the Under 16. Next up, the Orchestral Woodwind Under 18 class, again with yet more impressive repertoire choices, particularly the Flute Concerto No. 2 by Mozart. The class was won by Deanna Mahy with a Distinction. Next up, we had the Vocal Solo; Alto & Soprano Voices 15-18 - a change in the class title some may have noticed, one I feel for the positive, taking the classification for these ages away from gender and focused on the vocal type (which is not always determined by sex or gender), and which is much more inclusive and segues much better into the adult classifications. This gives young developing singers a better understanding of their voices, and the types of repertoire to choose and explore. Some very strong singing in this class, again with wonderful choices of repertoire. Genevieve Evans won the class with a Distinction performance of Handel's 'O Sleep Why Dost Thou Leave Me?' Closing the afternoon, we had the Choirs Secondary Age; Years 7-11 - important to note, that one choir performed the day before, but were adjudicated with the rest of the class. A wonderful class of choral singing here, with great direction for all the choir conductors. Group singing really is a special event, and I encourage everyone to get involved with it, which is why it is so pleasing to so many young singers involved in choral singing. A tough one to call, but on this occasion Guernsey Music Centre Intermediate Choir were victorious with a Distinction.
Starting off the evening, we had a wonderful class, the Piano Film Over 18. Film music, I feel is such a wonderful area of the music world, and this was a lovely cross section of a few memorable themes, and the imagery and emotions they can invoke. John Morris showcased his usual flair for fireworks with his rendition of the Theme from Dallas, but for me the highlight of the class was Marilyn Pugh's performance of 'Chocolat' by Rachel Portman (another wonderful female composer, adding to her theme from last night's piano repertoire class). Marilyn played the theme with a wonderful lilting air, and a sense of playfulness and mystery, and won the class with a Distinction mark of 88.
Next up, the Barbershop Ensemble Open, featuring States of Harmony. In previous years we've seen them as a full scale mixed voice choir, but on this occasion, a we had a barbershop sextet, performing 'Aura Lee' and 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'. A strong performance from this ensemble, and so lovely to hear the barbershop style - they won their class with 86 marks (Highly Commended). Continuing the evening, a string of vocal classes which sadly only featured one performer each, the Gilbert & Sullivan Open, and the Old Familiar Solo. I'd love to see more younger singers interested in musical theatre having a go at the Gilbert & Sullivan class, as there's so much to learn about musical theatre from this genre, which was the spring board for modern day MT. We had two..... very different performances here! First up we had Darren Alderton and Alison Castle... as 'Three Little Maids'.... but there's two of them.... and they were nuns.... anyone who knows these two that drama and comedy is what they are known for, and they earned themselves a Distinction. For the Old Familiar Solo class, Lindsey Veillard performed a touching rendition of 'Love's Old Sweet Song', which she endearingly dedicated to her late mother before her performance. A gentle coaxing of the audience to join her in the final refrain made for a warm and heartfelt delivery, and she was rightly awarded the trophy and a Distinction of 87 marks.
Next up, Darren and Alison were back with another performance in the Vocal Duet Over 18, performing Schubert's 'Ave Maria', with Alison as Baritone, and Darren singing the Soprano part as a CounterTenor. A clever inversion of the typical vocal parts, although my honest opinion, knowing what these two can do, I think they could develop the vocal qualities more and find more balance between the two voices, which would actually make their comical delivery even funnier. They were awarded 86 Marks (Highly Commended), and awarded the trophies. Finishing off the evening, and set of classical vocal solo classes; The Operatic Solo Over 18 and The Classe Superieure, which were both won by Joan Le Flem with 85 and 86 Marks respectively, and the French Solo O18, in which Kirsty Dempster stood out once more in the French class for her excellent and accurate pronunciation, receiving a Distinction mark of 87 for her performance of 'Villanelle' by Hector Berlioz.
Overall, another fine day at the Guernsey Music Eisteddfod. If there's a takeaway to be had from today's session, I think it would be the performances from our young musicians, particularly from Le Rondin, and Harriet Lord in the Under 12 Pop song, who's commitment and confidence in their wish to express themsevles really shone through. If you want to succeed, you just have to commit to things with confidence, even if it's just an act to begin with. Remember:
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| Joint winners of the U12 Pop (L-R); Jacob Morgan & Lottie Colmer |
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