Sweet sounds going down well as Caithness Music Festival draws to a close
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The 65th Caithness Music Festival is drawing to a close after a week of impressive performances. The finals for the Henry Rosie Memorial Shield for singing and the Thurso and District Round Table Shield for verse-speaking will be held at Thurso High School on Friday evening.
Roughly eight competitors ranging from P5 to S1/2 will take part.
During the week, one particular performance which festival secretary Audrey Mackinnon and convener Marjory Richard considered outstanding was Mount Pleasant P6-7 with their rendition of Sweet Child o' Mine in the popular song class on Tuesday.
The class, dressed in leathers and clutching blow-up guitars, were awarded a mark of 90, which by Thursday was the highest mark given at this year's festival.
Mrs Mackinnon and Mrs Richard both praised the "amazing" standard of the whole class.
Mount Pleasant P6-7 will be at the concert in Thurso on Monday night to perform once again. There will also be a concert held in Wick for those coming from the east of the county.
Organisers say they are grateful to audience members for their attendance and financial support over the week. Many costs need to be met to ensure the smooth running of the festival, from the upkeep of trophies to the production of programmes.
Tuesday results:
Popular song, P3-P5, Lewry Shield: 1 Noss P5 blue; 2 Dunbeath; 3 Newton Park P4-5. Popular song, P6-7, Eann Nicolson Shield: 1 Mount Pleasant P6-7; 2 Noss P6-7 blue; 3 Noss P7 red.
Woodwind solo, grade 1, Roy Stewart Memorial Shield between classes J21, J22 and J23: 1eq Bethany Swanson, Thurso High School, and Sarah Dunnett, Watten; 3 George Mills, Crossroads.
Woodwind solo, grade 2, Roy Stewart Memorial Shield between classes J21, J22 and J23: 1 Jodi McLean, Thurso High School; 2 Teri McGovern, Castletown; 3 Emily Campbell, Watten.
Woodwind solo, grade 3, Roy Stewart Memorial Shield between classes J21, J22 and J23: 1 Kayleigh Henderson, Thurso High School; 2 Teagan Williamson, Thurso High School; 3 Jeay Don, Thurso High School.
Brass solo, grade 5: 1 Ewan Bartlett, Wick. Brass solo, grade 2: 1 Martha Potts, Caithness; 2 Harris Turnbull, Watten; 3 Aren Eves-Munro, Watten.
Brass solo, grade 3: 1 Krystian Arrowsmith, Thurso. Woodwind solo, grade 7: 1 Isaac Potts, Caithness.
Brass solo, preliminary: 1 Jonah McColm, Caithness; 2 Charlie Denley-Spencer, Halkirk.
Woodwind solo, grade 5, Sheila Lewry Shield between classes J25 and J26: Oliver Denley-Spencer, Thurso High School. Woodwind solo, grade 6, Sheila Lewry Shield between classes J25 and J26: 1 Morag Mackay, Thurso High School.
Vocal solo, girls P7, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16, Eric McPherson Shield between classes A13 and A14: 1 Shannon Campbell, Lybster; 2eq Isla Mackay, Watten, and Sarah-Jane Dunnett, Watten.
Vocal solo, boys P7, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16, Eric McPherson Shield between classes A13 and A14: 1 Calum Eves-Munro. Vocal solo, boys P6, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16: 1 Aren Eves-Muno, Watten; 2 Harry Manson, Castletown.
Vocal solo, girls P6, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16: 1 Sophie Knapman, Thurso; 2eq Iona Gill, Thrumster, and Olivia Murton-Armer, Wick.
Vocal ensembles (2-4 voices): 1 Aren Eves-Munro and Ewan Sinclair, Watten; 2eq Josh, Callum, Finlay and Corey, Thrumster, and Isla, Chloe, Iona and Lucy, Thrumster.
Vocal solo, girls P1: 1 Cara Sinclair, Watten; 2 Abiela Williamson, Caithness. Vocal solo, boys P2: Theo Eves-Munro, Watten.
Vocal solo, girls P2: 1 Martha Potts, Caithness; 2eq Beth McColm, Caithness, and Eliana Williamson, Caithness. Vocal duet, P1-7: 1 Eliana Williamson and Martha Potts, Caithness; 2 Hannah and Jonah McColm, Caithness.
Vocal solo, girls P5, Henry Rosie Shield between classes A9 to A16: 1 Ola Omand, Thurso; 2 Iona Campbell, Watten; 3eq Grace Maclean, Watten, and Iona Campbell, Watten.
Instrumental duets, level 2: 1 Martha Potts and Leah Bullivant, Caithness. Scots song, primary, Agnes Custer Memorial Shield: 1 Olivia Murton-Armer, Wick; 2eq Aren Eves-Munro, Watten, Iona Campbell, Watten, and Grace Macintosh, Wick.
Scots song, S1, Margaret Green Quaich: Faith Baijal, Wick.
Instrumental duets, level 3, Wick Junior Scroll: 1 Stephanie and Megan, Wick High School; 2 Martha and Isaac Potts, Caithness; 3 Bernadette and Jonathan Nicol, Thurso.
Instrumental duet, level 7 and above, Betty Maxwell Glass Piano Trophy: 1 Isaac Potts and Sarah McColm, Caithness. Scots song, S3-6, Thurso Choral Society Shield: 1 Heather Grant, Melvich; 2 Andrew Harper, Wick.
Instrumental duets, level 5, Gordon Alexander Memorial Shield: 1 Talitha Williamson and Rebekah Bullivant, Caithness.
Verse speaking, girls P2, Maureen Allen Shield between classes M3 and M4: 1 Taylor Sutherland, Reay; 2 Victoria Fryett, Reay; 3eq Iris Cormack, Reay, and Eliana Williamson, Caithness.
Storytelling, adult: Miriam Nicol, Thurso. Verse speaking, girls P1, Tomlinson Quaich between classes M1 and M2: 1 Laney Harper, Noss; 2 Madison Murphy, Mount Pleasant; 3 Ella Simpson, Halkirk.
Verse speaking, boys P1, Tomlinson Quaich between classes M1 and M2: 1 Alex Vines, Mount Pleasant; 2 Ian Sutherland Campbell, Watten; 3 Finlay Aitken, Noss.
Storytelling, S1-6, Robin Mellor Cup:1 Bernadette Nicol, Thurso.
Wednesday results:
Secondary music making, larger group, Leslie Sheppard Shield: 1 Caithness Schools Wind Band. Primary music making, medium groups, 12 maximum, Music Association Shield: 1 Watten Wind Band.
Secondary music making, non-acoustic bands: Bats Don't Walk, Thurso High School. Primary music making, small groups, 6 maximum, Wick Quatercentenary Trophy: Cousin Quarter, Caithness.
Primary music making, larger group, 13 plus, Ferguson Shield: 1 Castletown P5-6; 2 Mount Pleasant P4; 3 Watten P6-7. Traditional Scottish instrumental music group, Margaret Henderson Memorial between classes L14 and L22: Thurso Junior Strathspey and Reel Society.
Traditional Scottish instrumental music group, Margaret Henderson Memorial between classes L14 and L22: Wick Young Fiddlers. Original poem, P1-7, the Simon Lamb Quill: 1 Saffiya Amin, Latheron; 2eq Martha Potts, Caithness, and Rhian McGuire, Lybster.
Verse speaking, boys P4, Pentland Cup between classes M7 and M8: 1 Nebi Sengular, Noss; 2 Max Lyall, Noss; 3 Mackenzie Sutherland, Reay. Verse speaking, girls P4, Pentland Cup between classes M7 and M8: 1 Leigh McBeath, Newton Park; 2 Erin Sutherland, Mount Pleasant; 3 Isla Ross, Castletown.
Verse speaking, boys P3, Grover Clyne Centenary Bowl between classes M5 and M6: 1 Owen Mill, Reay; 2 Alex Gunn, Dunbeath; 3 Callum Aitken, Noss. Verse speaking, girls P3, Grover Clyne Centenary Bowl between classes M5 and M6: 1 Emily Sutherland, Reay; 2eq Mhairi Kirk, Lybster, and Jolee Statham, Noss.
Scots fiddle solo: Eliana Williamson, Caithness. Scots fiddle solo, primary school, Thurso Strathspey and Reel Society Cup, Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Shield between classes H51, H53, J10 and J11: 1 Camilla Elder, Wick; 2 Talitha Williamson, Caithness; 3eq Freya Swanson, Watten, and Rebekah Bullivant, Caithness.
Accordion solo, secondary school, Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Cup, Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Shield between classes H51, H53, J10 and J11: 1 Joanne Sutherland, Bower; 2 Louisa Donn, Thurso; 3 David Henderson-Oag, Dunnet.
Accordion solo, primary school, Bobby Coghill Memorial Shield, Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club Shield between classes H51, H53, J10 and J11: 1 Alec Cormack, Thurso.
Clarsach, primary school: Alice Sutherland, Lybster. Clarsach, secondary school: Lexie Watson, Brough; 2 Bernadette Nicol, Thurso. Clarsach, adult: Jess Sutherland, Lybster.
Storytelling, P5-7, Mrs Boyd Shield: 1 Jonathan Nicol, Thurso; 2 Hannah McColm, Caithness.
Verse speaking, girls P7, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 to M14, Edgar Cup between classes M13 and M14: 1 Lois Omand, Pennyland; 2 Maisie Statham, Noss; 3 Shannon May, Halkirk.
Verse speaking, boys P7, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 to M14, Edgar Cup between classes M13 and M14: 1 Donald Campbell, Mount Pleasant; 2 Calum Innes, Reay.
Verse speaking, boys P6, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 to M14, Mark Smith Shield: 1 Murray Mackay, Noss; 2 Craig Campbell, Halkirk; 3 Jonathan Nicol, Mount Pleasant.
Verse speaking, girls P6, Thurso and District Round Table Shield between classes M9 to M14, Wick Town Improvements Shield: 1 Sophie Knapman, Mount Pleasant; 2 Grace Macintosh, Halkirk; 3eq Emily Anderson, Noss, and Talitha Williamson, Caithness.
