Last night saw an astounding array of musical talent as Wellington School pupils competed for the coveted Hannam Music Prizes.
“Old Wellingtonian Julian Hannam, instituted the Music Prize in 1990 to encourage and celebrate excellence in performance from young musicians throughout the school” commented Andrew Trewhella, Director of Music. “The standard of performance last night was just extraordinary and we were delighted to have so many entrants for all categories.”
The Hannam Music Prize now comprises three categories: Foundation (Grades 4-5) Intermediate (Grades 6-7) Advanced (Grade 8 and above). The competition was judged by Nationally-acclaimed double bassist and National Children’s Orchestra tutor Claire Whitson and Director of Somerset Music, Glyn Bowen.
The winner of the Foundation Prize was chorister Freddie Davies, who gave a soulful rendition of Giordani’s ‘Caro Mio Ben’. Also ‘Highly Commended’ were Dylan Leonard for his jaunty trumpet playing and Year 8 flautist Thomas Broom.
The hotly-contested Intermediate Prize was eventually won by Year 7 oboist and NCO player, Ella Leonard and singer Jess Handley was Highly Commended in this class.
The coveted Advanced Class was graced by 5 outstanding performers, making the adjudicators’ job very difficult indeed. After considerable soul-searching, Year 11 clarinettist William Mitchell won through with his exhilarating performance of the final movement of the Poulenc Clarinet Sonata. Flora Johnson, a Lower 6th chorister, camea very close second and received a Highly Commended from the adjudicators.
“We are immensely grateful to our judges for adjudicating the competition. Their task was unenviable as the standard was universally high. We are fortunate to have some extremely talented musicians at Wellington School and I am delighted that these Prizes are available to give our pupils a real sense of occasion and performance” concluded Andrew Trewhella.