Adjudicator praises 'sense of celebration' at 2022 Caithness Music Festival
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A Caithness Music Festival adjudicator praised the "sense of celebration" at this year's event and said he had been privileged to be part of it.
Richard Yarr highlighted the "wonderful talents" that had been showcased throughout the festival as it returned for the first time since before the pandemic.
Competitions took place from Tuesday through to Friday at the Assembly Rooms in Wick and the festival will culminate in the winners' concert on Monday evening.
Mr Yarr was the adjudicator for the music classes. He is based in Belfast where he is senior music producer for the BBC.
“I feel that the festival has really embraced the return from Covid," he said. "There is such a sense of celebration at the festival, so many people eager to get back to experience live music-making, which is just such a wonderful thing for us to enjoy.
“There has been such an array of talent. Numbers I hope will build, and I hope that more and more people will come back to the festival now it has resumed, because it is a really wonderful gem here in Wick.
“It showcases so many wonderful talents from the area and I have been really privileged to be here this week and to experience that.”
The speech and drama adjudicator was Norma Redfearn, while the Caithness dialect classes were judged by Jenny Szyfelbain.
Mrs Szyfelbain said of the dialect entries: “What was lacking in quantity was made up for in quality – I had some very talented youngsters and a super-talented adult."
She said she would like to take part in talks or workshops at schools around the county to help get dialect “back on the agenda”.
Further results from Friday:
Songs from the shows, adult vocal solo: Andrew Harper, Wick.
Scots song, adult vocal solo: Andrew Harper, Wick.
Folk song, adult vocal solo: Lesley Hendry, Wick.
Traditional Scottish instrumental music group: Wick Young Fiddlers.
Brass solo, Grade 3: Martha Potts, Mount Pleasant.
Woodwind solo, Grade 5: Kayleigh Henderson, Thurso High School.
Woodwind solo, Grade 4: Jodi McLean, Thurso High School.
Brass solo, Grade 5: Martha Potts, Mount Pleasant.
Brass solo, preliminary: Lachlan Copinger, Noss.
Brass solo, Grade 6: Martha Potts, Mount Pleasant.
Woodwind solo, Grade 1: 1 Alan Frame, Thurso High School; 2 Martha Potts, Mount Pleasant.
Trophies:
Henry Rosie Shield: Martha Potts.
Thurso and District Round Table Shield: Lily Sutherland.
Treble Clef Trophy: Andrew Harper.
Margaret Green Quaich: Andrew Harper.
Margaret Henderson Memorial Salver: Wick Young Fiddlers.
Sheila Lewry Shield: Kayleigh Henderson.
Roy Stewart Memorial Shield: Alan Frame.
Mount Pleasant Shield: P2j Newton Park.
Nordic Shield: Reay P1-3.
Mrs Mackenzie Cup: Reay P4-7.
Agnes Custer Memorial Shield: Martha Potts.
Betty Maxwell Glass Piano Trophy: Rachel McBoyle and Elizabeth Jones.
Related stories:
- Caithness Music Festival winners looking forward to Monday evening concert
- Caithness Music Festival going 'fantastically well' as volunteer helpers are praised
- Festival adjudicator keen to spread the word about Caithness dialect in local schools
