Winterfold House School – success at Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance, Competitive Arts Festival
10 Apr 2017
Talented musicians bring home the silverware at Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance, Competitive Arts Festival Worcester and compete in the world’s largest youth music festival at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham.
Congratulations to the talented singers from Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett who have achieved great success at the 57th Annual Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance held at Dudley College of Technology.
On Saturday 4th March, The Winterfold Girls’ Harmony Choir won the prestigious Coseley Male Voice Roseville Trophy. The girls sang two contrasting songs – ‘Crazy’ by Nelson, made famous by Patsy Kline and ‘Let It Be’ by Lennon and McCartney. The comments from the adjudicator were excellent; the choir sang with confidence and with clear harmonies, especially in girls so young. The judges for the classes were: Gabrielle Burgin Lister GRSM ARMCM PGCA and Anne Marshall MA, PGCE, LRAM.
Well done to Areesha Jafferi, Olivia Garrett, Zara Bedford, Catherine Chung, Mia King, Eleanor Dunn, Isabelle Bolton, Evie Richards, Poppy Pinfield and Philippa Fleming.
On Saturday 11th March, Winterfold House Music continued its success in a host of classes. In the Open Lieder Class, Eleanor Dunn won the ‘George Saunders Lieder Cup’ with her performance of Maria Wiegenlied by Reger. Eleanor also won the ‘Frank Richards Junior Cup’ in the Songs from Shows/Musicals 12 Years Class, singing ‘Without You’ from the musical ‘My Fair Lady’.
Olivia Garrett won third prize in the ‘Songs from the Shows/Musicals class 11 Years’ singing the classic song ‘Memory’ from ‘Cats’.
In the ‘Songs from the shows/musicals 9-10 years’ Winterfold Girls came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Catherine Chung won The Berridge Cup singing ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from the musical ‘Guys and Dolls’, Olivia Leung was 2nd Bessy Hingley 3rd and Isla Chattin 4th.
In ‘Vocal Solo 11 Years’, Zara Bedford came 3rd singing ‘The Smugglers Song’ by ‘Le Fleming’. In Vocal Solo 9-10 Years, Catherine Chung came 2nd and Olivia Leung came 3rd and in ‘Vocal Solo 8 and Under’, Olivia Odell won the ‘Sarah Morrison Trophy’ singing Flanders and Swans ‘The Hippopotamus Song’.
The silverware kept coming and on Sunday 12th March, Eleanor Dunn and Philippa Fleming won the ‘Marjorie Davies Memorial Trophy in the Vocal Duet 17 Years and Under class, singing ‘What is this feeling’ from the musical ‘Wicked’.
Winterfold House School was up against schools from Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Stone and Kingswinford.
Mrs Jane Richardson, singing teacher at Winterfold said “I am extremely proud of how all of the girls have performed. They have surpassed all expectations, performing their songs with confident vocal technique and stage presence at levels far exceeding their age abilities. For girls so young to sing so confidently, with good, clear, vocal tone and excellent breath control is remarkable.
At the Competitive Arts Festival, Worcester, held on 11th March, Rosie Brookes gained 2 first places (under 10 string group and duet) and second place in ‘8 and under string solo’.
Forty Winterfold House School Musicians also performed on Thursday 16th March at the Regional Festival Series at the CBSO Centre in Birmingham. Winterfold Chamber Choir, Groove Diggers and Senior Brass all took part in the competition this year. The children played exceptionally well and learnt a huge amount from the experience. They will hear later on in April if they have got through to the next rounds.
The Regional Festival Series welcomes 40,000 young musicians to take part in the world’s largest youth music festival in 50 locations nationwide. It is a chance for them to perform their music and gain valuable feedback from professional music mentors.
Mr Jerry Price, Head of Music said “Winterfold is hugely proud of the success of all of its pupils at these competitions, especially against what was tough opposition. This proves the excellent teaching of music and the wonderful opportunities that the children are given at school, which allow them to compete in competitions around the country”.