After weeks of preparation and practice, one of the most popular events of the year - the Cecilia James Music Festival - was celebrated on Friday, and to say it brought the roof down is no exaggeration! This year we welcomed Sophie Fisher, from Stonar School, as our adjudicator. Having adjudicated the Fourth Form Music Festival last year, we liked her so much, we asked her back. Her lovely comments and positive attitude throughout the day were very appreciated, and really added to the uplifting experience of the day.

The event began in the morning with individual classes and the day got off to a bang with Rock and Pop. Florrie (LV) sang first for Moberly, her rich tones complimenting the Adele song she had chosen to perform. Sophie (UVI) followed, bravely stepping in last minute for Grosstête. She sang ‘Before He Cheats’ with purposeful characterisation. Next, we enjoyed Hannah's (LV) drumming performance of ‘Love Rears its Ugly Head’ by Living Colour, representing Ed Rich she showed much potential and rhythmic accuracy. Poore had chosen Izzy (UV) to play electric guitar, and she amazed us with her fluent performance of a classic AC/DC number, overcoming with professionalism a change of plectrum, after the first one broke midway through the piece! Finally, Osmund’s Mia (UVI), performed Rush’s ‘Spirit of Radio’, on drum kit and glockenspiel, amazing us with her dexterity and coordination and winning the category.

The morning continued with five gifted singers. Willa (UV) performed the emotionally charged ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ for Poore and Ruby (UVI) did Moberly proud with her beautiful version of ‘In My Dreams’. Evie (UVI) performed a touching rendition of ‘I’m Still Hurting’ and Guinevere (LVI) handled her Handel with technical assurance, for Grosstête. Finally, Charlotte (LIV), who despite being the youngest performer of the class, displayed confidence as she sang ‘Over the Rainbow’ for Ed Rich. It was Evie who won the heart of the adjudicator.

Next, we had a new class. Each company had chosen two girls to work together to as a duo. Moberly and Grosstête had decided on a singer and pianist combination. Poppy (UV) and Anna (LVI) put us in a jazzy mood with ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ and Coco (UV) and Katelyn (UIV) complemented each other, performing a beautiful English song. Unfortunately, illness struck again, preventing one half of Ed Rich’s duo taking part, so Ayo (UVI) gave an impromptu offering of ‘My Heart Will Go On’. Lettie and Felicity (both UVI) chose an unusual but effective voice and cello duo for Osmund, the cello adding depth to Lettie’s vocals. Mia and Ami Budge (UIV) sang a duet with perfectly blended harmonies, which led them to be the winners of the group for Poore.

During lunchtime, the Instrumental Ensemble took place, with all sorts of interesting combinations of instruments, all rehearsed and arranged by the girls. They all did fantastically well, and it was a tough decision, but Osmund took the victory here. The vocal ensembles followed with varying approaches, some more serious and ambitious than others, but all clearly enjoying themselves. Poore was victorious.

The afternoon continued with Strings, this year all but one of the competitors were violinists. Firstly, Grosstête’s Ellie (LVI) played with flamboyant assurance, followed by Joanne (LV) for Poore, who played an exciting and energetic Tarantella on cello. Representing Moberly, Norah (UV) impressed with a piece of beautifully phrased unaccompanied Bach, from memory. Letty (UV) from Osmund also played from memory with heartfelt emotion and lastly Livia (LIV), who despite only having had lessons for a little over a year played a lovely traditional Yiddish piece like a seasoned performer for Ed Rich. In this class it was Ellie who reigned supreme.

The final individual class of the day was piano with another set of highly talented girls. They transported the listeners through the musical ages, from the precise and clean-cut Haydn that Halia (LVI, Grosstête) played, the Romanticism of Chopin performed for us by Cici (UIV, Osmund), the impressionistic sound world of Myra’s Debussy (UV, Moberly), to the simple, but playful piece that Holly, another of our LIV competitors, gave for Poore. Allison (LVI), however, performed her piece ‘Kites’ with an amazing range of colours and sensitivity and was picked as the winner of the class and presented with the Anna Roberts Cup.

Later, the whole school gathered for the final of the Cecilia James Prize. All the finalists performed amazingly well under the pressure before a chapel full of their peers, who were highly supportive. It was as always, a very difficult decision but Mia playing the drum kit and glockenspiel was the worthy trophy winner of the Cecilia James Cup this year.

Thank you to everyone who participated - the day was a truly spectacular musical extravaganza!

Mrs Rachel Allard - Singing Teacher and Co-ordinator of the Cecilia James Music Festival