Noteworthy pupils shine at Caithness music fest
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The 65th Caithness Music Festival drew to a close on Friday night after wowing the adjudicators throughout the week.
The finals for the Thurso and District Round Table Shield and the Henry Rosie Memorial Shield were held in Thurso High School, with Lois Omand and Faith Baijal taking home the prizes.
This was adjudicator Norma Redfearn’s first time in Caithness, with her awarding two 90 marks for local groups, as well as having a wonderful time.
Norma said that sometimes she can attend a few festivals in a row and not give out a 90, so to award two in one week highlights the quality of the performances.
“The standard, in a word – exceptional,” she said.
Reay P4-7 were awarded the second 90 of the week after Mount Pleasant P6-7, with Norma complimenting the hard work the teachers put in to organise both performances.
The Reay dramatised song brought in quips about politics and last year’s Royal Wedding, which Norma said was “amazing”
She also stressed how these festivals are wonderful tools for boosting the confidence and development of all who enter. They learn to work as part of a team and to express themselves, although the most important thing is that they enjoy themselves.
The children are also not putting too much strain on their voices at such a young age, so are not causing problems for the future, Norma highlighted.
“There’s more talent here than anything I’ve seen on television.”
The festival organisers were also praised, with Norma saying that the volunteers put in all the hard work through labour of love and for the benefit of the children in the community.
“I say thank you Caithness – it’s been a joy.”
Thursday results:
Singing game/action song, P3/4 and under, schools with 1-3 teachers Mrs J Gill Cup: 1. Thrumster P1-3; 2. Dunbeath P1; 3. Watten P1-3. Choral speaking, rural schools, Miss Mary Webster Shield: 1. Thrumster P4-7;
2. Castletown P6-7; 3. Dunbeath. Singing game/action song, P3/4 and under, schools with 4+ teachers, Peter Pan Cup: 1. Castletown P1-2; 2eq Noss P2 Yellow and Newton Park P2j. Vocal solo, boys S1-2, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16: 1. Ewan Bartlett, Wick;
2. Marc Bain, Thurso High School. Vocal solo, girls S1-2. Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16: 1. Faith Baijal, Wick; 2. Rhiannon Arrowsmith, Thurso High School; 3. Kirsty Henderson, Thurso High School. Vocal solo, boys S3-S6, Philip Sinclair Cup between classes A17 and A18: 1. Andrew Harper, Wick; 2. Isaac Potts, Caithness. Vocal solo, girls S3-S6, Philip Sinclair Cup between classes A17 and A18:
1. Heather Grant, Melvich;
2. Leanne Bain, Thurso High School;
3. Catherine-Star Blackford, Wick. Vocal solo, girls P4, Mackay Shield between classes A7 and A8: 1. Lucy Farquhar, Watten. Vocal solo, girls P4, Mackay Shield between classes A7 and A8: 1. Celin Eves-Munro, Watten; 2eq Sebastion Arrowsmith, Thurso and Jonah McColm, Caithness. Vocal solo, girls P3: 1. Cara Burt, Wick. Piano solo, preliminary: 1. Eliana Williamson, Caithness. Piano solo, grade 1, Katrina Geddes Shield between classes G11 and G12: 1. Ola Omand, Thurso; 2. Martha Potts, Caithness. Piano solo, grade 2, Katrina Geddes Shield between classes G11 and G12: 1. Leah Bullivant, Caithness;
2. Lois Omand, Thurso High School;
3. Ewan Bartlett, Wick. Piano solo, grade 3, Johnstone Shield between classes G13 and G14:
1. Talitha Williamson, Caithness; 2. Claire Elizabeth McAdam, Wick. Junior lieder, S6 and under, Anita Oberlander Cup: 1. Grace Macintosh and Talitha Williamson, Halkirk;
2. Martha Potts and Rebekah Bullivant, Caithness. Piano solo, grade 5, Manola Harper Cup:
1. Rebekah Bullivant, Caithness. Piano solo, grade 7 and above, Patterson Marrwood and Sons Cup: 1. Sarah McColm, Caithness. Verse speaking, girls P5, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 and M14, Stroma Cup between M9 and M10: 1. Alana Ross, Reay; 2. Ola Omand, Pennyland; 3eq Kirsten Coghill, Castletown and Emily Wallace, Miller Academy. Verse speaking, boys P5, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 and M14, Stroma Cup between M9 and M10:
1. Shay Coghill, Castletown;
2. Andrew Sinclair, Latheron; 3eq Charles Fryett, Reay and Rhys Gunn, Miller Academy. Humorous verses, P1-3: 1. Martha Potts, Caithness;
2. Beth McColm, Caithness; 3. Joshua Bullivant, Caithness. Verse speaking, boys S3-6, Dorothy Cup between classes M17 and M18: 1. Andrew Harper, Wick. Verse speaking, girls S3-6, Dorothy Cup between classes M17 and M18: 1. Rachel May, Thurso High School.
Friday results:
Dramatised song, P3/4 and under, schools with 4+ teachers, Mount Pleasant Shield: 1. Miller Academy P1; 2. Newton Park P2p; 3. Castletown P2-3. Dramatised song, P4 and over, schools with 1-3 teachers, Mrs Mackenzie Cup:
1. Reay P4-7; 2. Watten P4-5. Dramatised song, P3/4 and under, schools with 1-3 teachers, Nordic Shield: 1. Reay P1-3. Electric guitar/electric bass guitar solo, secondary school: 1. Iain Fishenden, Wick High School; 2eq Gary Williamson, Thurso High School, Lois Hodgson, Thurso High School and Ewan Bartlett, Wick High School. Electric guitar/electric bass guitar solo, primary school: 1. Finlay Swanson, Watten. Classical guitar solo, primary school: 1. Sophie Miller, Bower; 2eq Kyran Alexander, Bower and Finlay Swanson, Watten. Instrumental duets, level 1: 1. Finlay and Freya Swanson, Watten. Woodwind solo, preliminary: 1. Finlay Young, Castletown; 2. Lucy Farquhar, Watten; 3. Celin Eves-Munro, Watten.
Friday evening results:
Final, Thurso and District Round Table Shield: Lois Omand. Final, Henry Rosie Memorial Shield: Faith Baijal. Verse speaking, adult, Masks of Comedy and Tragedy: 1. Lesley Hendry, Wick. Sing for pleasure solo: Kane Cameron. Humorous verse, adult: 1. Lesley Hendry, Wick. Songs from the shows, ensemble: 1. Kane Cameron and Sean MacGregor, Thurso. Songs from the shows, solo, Treble Clef Trophy: 1. Clemency Crow, Wick; 2. Kane Cameron, Thurso.
