St Benedict's Music Festival 2022

St Benedict’s Music Festival concluded with the Finalists’ Concert on Friday 4^th March, with brilliant performances from the winners of each heat. It was adjudicated by Lucy Morris, Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain Boys’ Choir.

St Benedicts Music Festival 2022

As ever, a range of extremely impressive performances, on piano, woodwind, strings, percussion, guitar and voice, presented the adjudicator with a formidable challenge in deciding the winners. Summing up the evening’s inspiring musicianship, Lucy Morris congratulated all performers and said: “What amazing talent in all three categories. You’ve been so brave and so brilliant, giving your best in front of an audience.” She then gave each performer valuable, encouraging feedback before announcing the winners.

The annual Music Festival is a great opportunity for all our musicians to develop confidence and performance skills. In the preceding week the Heats adjudicator - Tomas Leakey, founder of the Mahler Players chamber orchestra, and Diploma Examiner for ABRSM - heard and gave feedback to over 240 solo entries from pupils in Year 7 to the Sixth Form.

In addition to the 21 excellent solo performances, the audience enjoyed wonderful ensemble performances before the competition and between each class.

WINNERS

Flohouse Cup

Rory J (U4/Year 9) Sonata for Saxophone Victor Morosco

St Benedicts Music Festival — Rory J, winner of the Flohouse Cup

Senior Section Cup

Ned W (U5/Year 11) Vocalise for Cello Op. 34 No. 14 Rachmaninoff

As ever, a range of extremely impressive performances, on piano, woodwind, strings, percussion, guitar and voice, presented the adjudicator with a formidable challenge in deciding the winners. Summing up the evening’s inspiring musicianship, Lucy Morris congratulated all performers and said: “You’ve been so brave and so brilliant, giving your best in front of an audience. What amazing talent in all three categories.” She then gave each performer valuable, encouraging feedback before announcing the winners. The annual Music Festival is a great opportunity for all our musicians to develop confidence and performance skills. In the preceding week the Heats adjudicator - Tomas Leakey, founder of the Mahler Players chamber orchestra, and Diploma Examiner for ABRSM - heard and gave feedback to over 240 solo entries from pupils in Year 7 to the Sixth Form. In addition to the 21 excellent solo performances, the audience enjoyed wonderful ensemble performances before the competition and between each class. WINNERS Flohouse Cup Rory Johnston (U4) Sonata for Saxophone Victor Morosco Senior Section Cup Ned Watts (U5) Vocalise for Cello Op. 34 No. 14 Rachmaninoff Intermediate Section Cup George Majcherczyk-Olczak (U4) Nuit d’etoiles Debussy Junior Section Cup Jake Toynton (L4) Allegro (1st Movement, Clarinet Quintet K. 581) Mozart — Ned W, winner of the Senior Cup

2nd: Lucas H (U6/Year 13) Music of the Night (The Phantom of the Opera) Lloyd Webber/Hart/Stilgoe

3rd: Risindu S (U5/Year 11) (Drumkit) Hall of Fame The Script

Intermediate Section Cup

George M (U4/Year 9) Nuit d’etoiles Debussy

St Benedicts Music Festival 2022 — George M, winner of the Intermediate Cup, sings Debussy's *Nuit d’etoiles*

2nd: Helena R (L5/Year 10) Sonata in A minor 'Arpeggione' (1st movement) Schubert

3rd: Luke C (U4/Year 9) (Percussion) 'Mia and Sebastian', theme from La La Land J Hurwitz

Junior Section Cup

Jake T (L4/Year 8) Allegro (1^st Movement, Clarinet Quintet K. 581) Mozart

2nd: Aimee P (Form 3/Year 7) She used to be mine from Waitress Sara Bareilles

3rd: Jessica W (Form 3/Year 7) Jazzin' Grace Wilkinson