The Music, Speech and Drama Classes of the 34th North Devon Performing Arts Festival have recently taken place at Shebbear College and at Petroc. There was an increase in the number of entries for the Music Classes, and the Speech and Drama classes were held again after a break last year. The organisers were warmly welcomed both at Shebbear College and Petroc and were thrilled to be able to use the excellent facilities in both venues. It was wonderful to see students taking part from many different schools and colleges from a wide area including Instow Primary, Umberleigh Primary, Newport Primary, Pilton Bluecoats, Trinity School, Shebbear College, Great Torrington, Pilton College, Kingsley, Park College, West Buckland, Bideford College and Petroc.
For the music classes, the committee was delighted to welcome international adjudicators Elizabeth Brazier (vocal) and Helen Deakin (instrumental) back to North Devon – entrants were given encouraging pointers as to how their performances might be enhanced along with workshops and mini master classes. After her adjudicating was complete Helen Deakin wrote, “I was delighted to return to adjudicate for the North Devon Performing Arts Festival. There was a really positive atmosphere with performances ranging from the very early stages right through to advanced recital playing. The performers were very receptive to new ideas and ready to try any suggestions. The Festival was well organised and it was good to see so many people helping with the many tasks that are necessary in order for the sessions to run smoothly.”
This year a new competition was introduced very successfully – Junior Young Musician Competition – which attracted a number of entrants and was won by Oliver Kinsella with his wonderful guitar playing. Once again the Young Musician Competition was won by Edward Tai, this year playing the piano. Both winners were presented with money prizes and trophies.
There were several performances that fell into the distinction category which reflects the extremely high standard of our local musicians and the adjudicators praised the standard of teaching and dedication to music in the area.
Instrumentalists gaining distinctions were Toby Gardner, Molly Davies, Milo Robinson, Charlotte Chambers, Sophie Temple, Charlotte McLean, Charlotte Price and Shebbear College String Ensemble with Edward Tai gaining the only outstanding instrumental mark.
Singers who achieved this exceptional level of performance were Megan Brown, Loveday Williams, Lauren Wivell, Molly Gardner, Vivien Mak, Margaret Murray-Palmer and Flin Elizabeth Webb.
The Speech and Drama classes were reinstated after a break last year and the committee were delighted to welcome back Edwina Lloyd as the adjudicator. Following the festival Edwina wrote, “I was particularly delighted to be asked back to adjudicate the Speech and Drama section of the North Devon Performing Arts Festival. This Festival has been re-launched and what talent we saw! Dedicated teachers have encouraged all ages to enjoy poetry, prose, solo drama as well as drama in pairs and groups.”
Exciting work of a high standard was seen throughout the classes and this was confirmed by the number of entrants who received a distinction mark – Josh Flanagan, Bella Richards, Elijah Bodinetz, Danny Rogers, Crystal Lam, James Hadley-Piggin, Fraser O’Brien, Lennox Bradford, Freddie Wakefield, Robert Stirzaker, Louisa Cotton, Fern Large-Lee and Robyn Bushell, Tyla Cisneros and Benjamin Northrop, Sarah Prentice, Millie Podmore and Felicity Wheeler, Alena and Asha Cartmell, Tom Spear, Kelsie Cooling and Isobel Fincher. Special mention must be made of those who gained a mark which put them in the outstanding performace category, namely Robert Stirzaker, Ella Tagg, Becky Kemp and Joanna Heard, Molly Gardner and Katie Morgan, Millie Podmore and Felicity Wheeler, Reed Ashbury and Chloe Foster.
Overall awards in the Festival went to Megan Brown who won the most promising singer 12 years & under and Robert Stirzaker who won the most promising singer 18 years & under. The overall duet cup was won by Georgia Stevens and Anne Westlake while the Cup for the highest mark in the vocal classes was shared by Robert Stirzaker, Loveday Williams and Megan Brown. In the adult section Ranald MacDonald was awarded the Festival Tankard for Male Solo whilst Flin Elizabeth Webb won the most promising adult award with the overall ladies solo award going to Margaret Murray-Palmer. Overall instrumental awards went to Milo Robinson for the most promising musician 12 years & under, and Edward Tai most promising musician 18 years & under with the cup for the highest mark in a solo instrument award going to Oliver Kinsella.
In the Speech and Drama overall awards Robert Stirzaker won the cup for the best comedy performance with Elijah Bodinetz winning the trophy for the most promising performer. The 12 years and under most promising performer was Lulu Goaman and the cup for the highest mark in solo drama went to Ella Tagg. Millie Podmore and Felicity Wheeler were awarded both the shield for the highest mark in speech or drama and the shield for the highest duologue mark.
Results from the vocal & instrumental classes
Junior Vocals
Own Choice 10 yrs & under Megan Brown
Own Choice 14yrs & under Robert Stirzaker
Unaccompanied Folk Song 10 yrs & under Alexander Bingham
Unaccompanied Folk Song 14 yrs & under Molly Gardner
Accompanied Folk Song 10 yrs & under Megan Brown
Accompanied Folk Song 14 yrs & under Daisy Burnell
Show Song Pre 1970 10 yrs & under Loveday Williams
Show Song Post 1970 10 yrs & under Megan Brown
Show Song Pre 1970 12 yrs & under Lauren Wivell
Show Song Post 1970 12 yrs & under Lauren Wivell
Show Song Pre 1970 14 yrs & under Robert Stirzaker
Show Song Post 1970 14 yrs & under Isobel Fincher
Show Song Pre 1970 16 yrs & under Tom Brown
Show Song Post 1970 16 yrs & under Theresa Bilda
Show Song Post 1970 18 yrs & under Vivien Mak
Sacred Song 14yrs & under Lauren Wivell
Secular Song 1600 – 1800 14yrs & under Molly Gardner
German Lieder 18yrs & under Vivien Mak
Other style of singing 14yrs & under Daisy Burnell
Other style of singing 18yrs & under Theresa Bilda
Duet – any style 14 yrs & under Georgia Stevens & Anne Westlake
Duet – any style 18 yrs & under Jessie Francis & Jess Cox
School Choir 14yrs & under Shebbear College Lower School Choir
School Choir 18 yrs & under Shebbear College Senior School Choir
School Choir 11 yrs & under West Buckland Chamber Choir
Adult Vocal Classes
Recital Flin Elizabeth Webb
German Lieder Margaret Murray Palmer
Opera Margaret Murray Palmer
English Art Song Auriel Hill
Ladies Solo Flin Elizabeth Webb
Popular Song Flin Elizabeth Webb
Folk Song Flin Elizabeth Webb
Bel Canto Auriel Hill
Show Song Flin Elizabeth Webb
Sacred Song Margaret Murray-Palmer
Man’s Solo Ranald MacDonald
Instrumental Classes
Novice Musician 9 yrs & under Poppy Galbraith
Novice Musician 11 yrs & under Niamh Short
Novice Musician 14 yrs & under Sophie Temple
Piano Solo Pre-Grade 1 Sebastian Crookes
Piano Solo Grade 1 Jabez Kent
Piano Solo Grade 2 Toby Gardner
Piano Solo Grade 3 Caitlin McCartney
Piano Solo Grade 4 Ellerker Singleton
Piano Solo Grade 5 Molly Davies
Piano Solo Grade 7 Jason Man
Piano Solo Grade 8 Gigi Lai
Piano Solo 8 yrs & under Isobel Watt
Piano Solo 10 yrs & under Coco Grigg
Piano Solo 12 yrs & under Simon Cornish
Piano Solo 14 yrs & under Darcey Atkinson
Piano Duet Grade 1 Chloe Stairs
Piano Playing from memory 12 yrs & under Olivia Rolls
Piano Playing from memory 14 yrs & under William Balkwill-Western
Piano Playing from memory 16 yrs & under Amber Defries
String Solo Beginner Sophie Temple
String Solo Grade 2 & under Bess Scambler
String Solo Grades 4 & 5 Darcey Atkinson
String Solo Grade 6 & 7 Charlotte McLean
String Solo Grade 8 Edward Tai
Ensemble Playing 11 yrs & under West Buckland Prep Orchestra
Ensemble Playing 18 yrs & undr Shebbear College Senior School String Ensemble
Woodwind Solo Beginners Aleyna Singleton
Woodwind Solo Grade 3 Rebecca Miskovic
Woodwind Solo Grades 6 & 7 Jess Cox
Guitar Solo Beginners, Grade 1 & under Amber Rogers
Guitar Solo Grade 2 & under Georgia Adams
Guitar Solo Grade 3 Milo Robinson
Guitar Solo Grades 4 & 5 Maia Dart
Guitar Solo Grades 6 & 7 Catherine Way
Solo Instrument 10 yrs & under Timothy Parker
Solo Instrument 12 yrs & under Amelia Dennis
Solo Instrument 14 yrs & under Rose McKinnell
Solo Instrument 18 yrs & under Charlotte Price
Brass Solo Grades 4 & 5 Amelia Dennis
Instrumental Recital 13 yrs and under Rebecca Miskovic
Own Composition 14 yrs & under Kelsie Cooling
Results from the speech and drama classes
Novice performer – poetry 9 yrs & under Anna Davies
Novice performer – poetry 10 – 14 yrs Victoria Davies
Novice performer – prose 9 yrs & under Anna Davies
Novice performer – prose 10 – 14 yrs Isabella Varley
Novice performer – solo drama 10 yrs & under Anna Davies
Novice performer – solo drama 11 – 14 yrs Isabella Varley
Novice performer – solo drama 15 – 18 yrs Crystal Lam
Poetry – own choice – 6 yrs & under Gracie Blake
Poetry – own choice – 8 yrs & under Lulu Goaman
Poetry – own choice – 10 yrs & under Elijah Bodinetz
Poetry – own choice – 12 yrs & under William Robins
Poetry – own choice – 18 yrs & under James Hadley-Piggin
Humerous verse – 6 yrs & under Isobelle Kavanagh
Humerous verse – 8 yrs & under Jersey Ledger
Humerous verse – 10 yrs & under Elijah Bodinetz
Humerous verse – 12 yrs & under Tilly Shepherd
Humerous verse – 14 yrs & under Robert Stirzaker
Poetry duologue – 11 yrs & under Lennox Bradford and Fraser O’Brien
Prose reading – 8 yrs and under Daisy Craner-Watts
Prose reading – 10 yrs and under Elijah Bodinetz
Prose reading – 12 yrs and under Freddie Wakefield
Prose reading – 14 yrs and under Robert Stirzaker
Prose reading – 15 – 18 yrs James Hadley-Piggin
Public Speaking – Senior Anja Popovic, K’senia Levandovskaya, Greta Hasslberg
Sight reading – 9 yrs & under Anna Davies
Sight reading – 11 yrs and under Elijah Bodinetz
Sight reading – 14 yrs and under Robert Stirzaker
Sight reading – 18 yrs and under Jessica Sansom
Solo drama – 10 yrs and under Daniel Moody
Solo drama – 12 yrs and under Louisa Cotton
Solo drama – 14 yrs and under Robert Stirzaker
Solo drama – 16 yrs and under Ella Tagg
Duologue – 12 yrs & under Nathaniel Bodinetz & Megan Wray
Duologue – 14 yrs & under Becky Kemp & Joanna Heard
Duologue – 16 yrs & under Millie Podmore & Felicity Wheeler
Duologue – 18 yrs & under Vicky Leung & Anthony Chau
Solo Shakespeare – 14 yrs & under Ella Tagg
Solo Shakespeare – 18 yrs & under Sarah Prentice
Shakespeare Duologue – 16 yrs & under Millie Podmore & Felicity Wheeler
Impromptu – Improvised Drama – 14 yrs & under Kelsie Cooling & Isobel Fincher
Impromptu – Improvised Drama – 18 yrs & under Millie Podmore & Felicity Wheeler
Mime 10 yrs & under Alena and Asha Cartmell
Mime 12 yrs & under Freddie Johnston
Script writing 14 yrs & under Alena and Asha Cartmell
Group Acting – 10 yrs & under Pupils from Pilton Bluecoats