Ellesmere Top of the Charts at Oswestry Youth Music Festival 2023

Current and former Ellesmere College students struck the right chord with judges in another strong showing at Oswestry Youth Music Festival.

The festival, which has been running for more than 40 years, saw Ellesmere College collect 20 first places (22 if including Old Ellesmerians!) and a total of 40 seconds and thirds making them the most successful school at this year's festival!

It was held at three venues in the town between March 1 and 5 and attracted more than 450 entrants across more than 80 classes, including woodwind, string, piano, brass, instrumental, percussion, vocal, choir and band.

Tony Coupe, Director of Music at Ellesmere College, said: "Huge congratulations to all the students taking part and performing in this year's festival and thanks go to all those who came and supported them through the five days of competition.

"What was particularly special about this year's festival was the breadth of classes that our students took part in. Having established a rock band programme at the start of the year, seeing them perform in the fantastic atmosphere of the Hermon Chapel, with our 6th Form Band coming 1st, was a huge highlight."

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Image courtesy of Stonehouse Photographic. 

"Special thanks go to Kevin Whitley, Gaenor Ellis, Simon Fisher, Rebecca Paul, Zoe Fisher and Clare Pearce for putting so much time into supporting, preparing and looking after our students and of course to our brilliant students who performed to the highest standard.

"There were some notable performances, including Walker Music Scholar Molly Fry who produced a beautiful programme on the clarinet on her way to winning the Under 21 Woodwind Class. There will be an opportunity to hear Molly perform her Gershwin set at our Five Choirs Concert at Ellesmere College on April 21st.

"Isobel Philbin sang Se Tu M'Ami with great character, clarity and poise in the 12 and Under final, Kit Fisher performed on the Drum Kit for both the 12 and Under and 15 and Under finals with a maturity and refinement well beyond his years, and the Oswestry Town Council Cup, won by Old Ellesmerian Jakob Fradley last year, went to Old Ellesmerian Kizzy Lumley-Edwards this year."

"In developing music to a high standard and encouraging students to enjoy their performances, Ellesmere is the perfect place for the holistic development of musicians."

The next opportunity to hear the award-winning choirs of Ellesmere College is on 18th March in the College Chapel at 7.30pm, ahead of their forthcoming tour of Barcelona, where they will be singing in such prestigious locations such as the La Familia Sagrada, Barcelona Cathedral and Montserrat Monastery.

For more information please visit: Music Scholarships at Ellesmere College

Results:

Vocal

Vocal Solo Classical & Traditional, The Rose Pinches Trophy, Isobel Philbin, 1st; Eva Ford, 3rd. Vocal Solo Pop & Easy Listening, The Music MOB Award, Henry Hughes, 1st; Isabella New, 2nd; Eva Ford, 3rd. The Rowanthorn Trophy, Noah Fisher, 2nd; Holly Coupe, 3rd. The Cluett Watkis Memorial Salver, Charlie Wood, 1st; Huw Lloyd and Noah Fisher, joint 2nd. Vocal Solo, The Way Ahead Senior Trophy, Lewis Reardon, 1st. The Dario Silcock Cup, Huw Lloyd, 1st; Lewis Reardon, 2nd; Olivia Philbin, 3rd. The Turner Trophy, Kizzy Lumley-Edwards, 1st; Huw Lloyd, 2nd. Vocal Duet, The Dinnis Ford Trophy, Molly Fry and Lucy Conway, 2nd; Molly Fry and Tabitha Leonard, 3rd. Oratorio, The Stans Superstore Vocal Award, Olivia Philbin, 1st. Opera, The Rotary Club of Oswestry Trophy, Kizzy Lumley-Edwards, 1st; Lucy Conway and Olivia Philbin joint 2nd.

Unaccompanied Folk Song, The Mary Cruikshank Trophy, Lucy Chadwick, 1st.

Musical Theatre

The Way Ahead Junior Trophy, Eva Ford, 3rd. The Elaine Channon Trophy, Mini Uras-Garvin, 3rd. The Weston Pools Trophy, Huw Lloyd, 1st; Lewis Reardon, 2nd; Charlie Wood, 3rd. Musical Theatre Ensemble, The Fixauto Award, Ellesmere Lower School, 2nd.

Woodwind

Woodwind Solo, The Olympic Trophy, Molly Fry, 2nd. The Oswestry & District Arts Association Cup, Molly Fry, 1st.

Drum Kit

Drum Kit Solo, The Kynaston Award, Kit Fisher, 1st; Isobel Philbin, 3rd. The Bowen Son & Watson Shield, Kit Fisher, 1st. The Claire Stone Award, Noah Fisher, 1st. Drum Kit Solo With Backing Track, The Paradiddle Trophy, Freddie Heasmer-Jones and Kit Fisher, joint 2nd; Josh Philbin, 3rd. The Stans Superstore Award, Noah Fisher, 1st.

Strings

String Solo, The Leondari Award, Florence Hughes, 3rd. The Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Cup, Alex Hu, 2nd; Freddie Heasmer Jones, 3rd.

Instrumental duet

The Melody & Metal Cup, Alex Hu and Lucinda Bound, 2nd; Kyara Heward and Ellie Kimber, joint 3rd with Alex Hu and Aaron Heward. The Stans Superstore Award, Molly Fry and Tabby Kimber, 1st.

Rock Bands

The Hermon Chapel Award, Fingers in the Sky, 1st; Small Furry Animals, 2nd.

Piano

Piano Duet, The Hawksley Award, Kyara and Aaron Heward, 1st. Piano Solo, The Edith May Jones Cup, Aaron Heward and William Donaghy, joint 3rd. Beginner Solo, The Richard Bean Memorial Trophy, Francesca Haydon, 3rd.

Brass

Brass solo, The Vernon Carter Memorial trophy, Henry Hughes, 2nd.

Ensembles

Percussion Ensemble, The Brian Stone Trophy, Ellesmere Dynamic Drummers, 1st. Instrumental ensemble, The Med Aid Award, Ellesmere College Lower School Band, 2nd.

Chamber Music Ensemble, The Whittington Chamber Music Festival Trophy, Ellesmere Instrumental Ensemble, 3rd. Vocal Ensemble, The David Davies Memorial Trophy, The Raven Four, 1st.

Youth Orchestra

The High Sheriff Award, Ellesmere Senior Orchestra, 1st.

Choir

Youth Choir, The Peter Starbuck Cup, Ellesmere Lower School, 3rd. The Wilfred Owen Cup, Ellesmere College Youth Choir, 3rd. The Matt Dewhirst Cup, Ellesmere College Chamber Choir, 1st; Ellesmere College Chapel Choir, 2nd. The Hawksley Award, Aaron and Kyara Heward, 1st.

Ends.

9th March 2023  Back to News