High praise as Caithness Music Festival gets under way

THE Caithness Music Festival got off to a tremendous start on Monday at Wick Assembly Rooms.

Festival secretary Audrey MacKinnon, who has been a member of the committee for 24 years, said the event had received a good standard of entries from younger participants.

"The appeal of the competition seems to be getting wider," she said. "We have had participants from as far as Sutherland and Ross-shire taking part. Unfortunately adult numbers are down from the previous year which is disappointing. However, the standard shown by the younger participants has been extremely high.

Adjudicator Marilynne Davies, from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, said: "This my second time at the festival and it is with great pleasure too. Everybody has been so welcoming and keen on being part of the festival. We have a had a really good opening day, with lots of variety and good teaching."

Brian Marjoribanks, who is judging the speech and drama classes, praised the high standards.

He said: "The standard set by the young participants has been nothing short of outstanding. The natural ability they have and they coaching they receive from their teachers has been lovely to see."

Results – Singing game/action song, p3 and under: 1, Hillhead P2; 2, Hillhead P1; 3, Castletown. P3/4: 1, Reay; 2, Thrumster; 3, Bower. P4: 1, Wick South; 2, Castletown.

Choral speaking, rural schools: 1, Bower; 2, Thrumster; 3, Dunbeath. Vocal solo, girls P5: 1, Kayla Johnson, Miller Academy; 2eq, Neave MacLeod, Miller Academy, and Chloe Trueman, Miller Academy. Vocal solo, boys P5: 1, Harris Waribo, Miller Academy; 2, Euan Costello, Miller Academy, 3eq, Lyle Cormack, Miller Academy, and Euan Hickey, Miller Academy.

Descant recorder, solo, grade one: 1, Anna Campbell, Miller Academy; 2, Isla Bain, Miller Academy; 3, Hollie Whitson, Miller Academy. Recorder, preliminary: 1, Stephanie Kozlowski, Castletown; 2, N. Macleod, Miller Academy; 3, Isla Costello, Miller Academy.

Electronic keyboard, primary: 1, Iona McLachlan, Mount Pleasant; 2, Isaac Potts, Scotscalder; 3eq, Rachel Cowie, Miller Academy, and Grace McCafferty Thurso.

Scots fiddle, solo, primary, slow air and march: 1, Cara Gordon, Thurso; 2, Emily Morrison, Wick; 3, Bryony Munro, Papigoe. Scots fiddle solo, secondary, march, strathspey and reel: 1, Brianna Gordon, Thurso; 2, Caitlin Forbes, Latheron; 3, Ellie Mackay, Portskerra. Accordion solo, primary: 1, William Campbell, Halkirk; 2, Mure Grant, Pennyland; 3, Frances Grant, Pennyland. Accordion solo, secondary: 1, Stephanie Harper, Wick; 2, Gemma Strange, Wick; 3, Russell Mackay, Wick.

Clarsach, adult: Erica Sinclair, Halkirk. Descant recorder solo, grade two: 1, Yasmin Campbell, Miller Academy; 2eq, Heather Bain, Thurso High School and Rhianna Urquhart, Miller Academy. Descant recorder solo, grade four: Belinda Gordon, Thurso.

Cello/bass solo, grade three: Alistair Sinclair, Thurso High School. Cello/bass solo, grade one: E. Hickey, Miller Academy. Violin/viola solo, grade five: B. Gordon. Violin/viola solo, grade four: Michael Stone, Castletown. Violin/viola solo, grade three: 1, Cara Gordon, Thurso; 2, Ghislaine Barry, Thurso; 3eq, Nicola Gray, Thurso High School, and Katie Reiss, Thurso High School.

Violin/viola solo, grade two: Martha Garbe, Thurso. Violin/viola solo, grade one: 1, Penny Johnstone, Thurso High School; 2eq Joanna Reiss, Pennyland, and Katie Dunnett, Canisbay. Violin/viola solo, preliminary: 1, Aiva Harper, Wick; 2, Mara Gibb, Miller Academy; 3, Catriona Mhor, Wick.

Storytelling, S1 to S6: 1, Michael Stone, Castletown; 2 Kieran Sutherland, Wick. Storytelling, P5 to P7: John Sutherland, Wick. Verse-speaking, girls P7: 1, Chloe Stewart, Canisbay; 2eq Rhianna Urquhart, Miller Academy; 3, Shona Tait, Wick North. Verse-speaking, boys P7: 1, Jordan Bain, Halkirk; 2eq, Andrew Mackay, Miller Academy, Saul Stevens, Miller Academy, and Laurie Todd, Wick.

Classical guitar, primary: Megan Lloyd, Halkirk. Electric guitar/electric bass guitar, secondary: John Forbes, Latheron. Electric guitar/electric bass guitar, primary: Liam Harper, Wick.

Vocal solo, boys P6: Ewan Adamson, Reay. Scots song, primary: 1, Bryony Munro, Papigoe; 2eq, Jordan Kennedy, Keiss, R. Urquhart, Miller Academy, and Elle Harrold, Wick North.

Group music-making, orchestral instruments: 1, Pentland Brass Band, Thurso; 2, The Sunday Night Band, Thurso. Group music-making, chamber music: 1, Caithness Handbell Ringers; 2, Poltney Bell Ringers; 3, The North Winds Doth Blow.

Trophies – Miss Mary Webster Shield: Bower P4-7. Mrs J Gill Cup: Reay P1-2. Peter Pan Cup: Hillhead P2. Wick Town Council Shield: Wick South P3-4. Music Committee Shield: Brianna Gordon. Strathspey and Reel Society Cup: Cara Gordon. Bobby Coghill Memorial Shield: William Campbell. Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Shield: W. Campbell. Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Cup: Stephanie Harper. Edinburgh Cup: Yasmin Campbell. Wick Rotary Club Cup: Belinda Gordon. Buchanan Shield: Euan Hickey. Mentiplay Shield: B. Gordon. Jack Duncan Memorial Shield: C. Gordon. Robin Mellor Trophy: Michael Stone. Edgar Cup: Chloe Stewart. Mrs Boyd Shield: John Sutherland. Agnes Custer Memorial Shield: Bryony Munro. Hamilton Shield: Pentland Brass Band.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.