Volunteers highlighted as 65th Caithness Music Festival gets off to a positive start
THE importance of volunteer support was highlighted as the 65th Caithness Music Festival got off to a positive start on Monday.
Three new adjudicators are in attendance this year and are pleased with the quality of the performances they have seen so far.
Festival secretary Audrey Mackinnon said this has been one of the best years with a strong committee.
She explained that the festival takes a lot to organise and that a minimum of 60 helpers are needed across the week, so having plenty of volunteers makes a big difference.
Although this is the 65th festival, some trophies being contested date back as far as the 1920s. There are 120 trophies in total, although not all are being competed for this year.
Yesterday, Mrs Mackinnon highlighted how busy the Assembly Rooms has been with the performers and spectators, with no spare seat in sight.
"It's a shame we can't get more people in, but there is limited seating for the public. But this is good, as it shows there is a lot of support."
The same can be expected on Thursday.
Mrs Mackinnon added that the Popular Song class was one that had particularly taken off. Whole classes can pick any song they want and dress up to perform it, but there are no props allowed so the focus is solely on the singing.
This year hits by Queen, Elton John and the Rembrandts were among those chosen. Mrs Mackinnon added: "It's great that they're getting involved."
Monday results – Primary school choirs, P4-5, William Rankin Wilson Cup: 1 Newton Park; 2 Castletown. Rural schools choirs, Henrietta Sinclair Shield: 1 Accents Caithness; 2eq Watten and Thrumster. Primary School Choirs, Scots song, Lady Jessamine Harmsworth Shield: 1 Thrumster; 2 Watten; 3 Castletown.
Choirs, boys' unbroken voices, Fred Shearer Bowl: 1 East Caithness Lads; 2 Castletown. Secondary school choirs, two or more parts, Wick Old Parish Shield: Thurso High School. Choirs, 18 years and under, unison: East Caithness Girls.
Sunday school choirs, Thurso West Cup: The King's Kids. Choirs. Eighteen years and under, unison: East Caithness Choir. Secondary school choir, Scots song, Wick Junior Choir Cup: Thurso High School.
Caithness dialect P5 and under, Wur Ketlane, Jenny Stewart, Field of Noss Quaich between classes M40 to M44, James M Gunn Dialect Quaich: 1 Alana Ross, Reay; 2 Andrew Sinclair, Latheron; 3eq Lily Sutherland, Wick, and Kirsty May, Halkirk.
Caithness dialect, S3-S6, 'E Weather, Jenny Stewart, Field of Noss Quaich between classes M40 to M44, Thurso Town Improvements Cup: 1 Morven Mackenzie, Halkirk; 2 Rachel May, Thurso High School.
Caithness dialect, adult, 'E Skorrie, John Horne, Caithness Glass Paperweight Trophy: 1 Lesley Hendry, Wick; 2 Mary Smith, Thurso. Caithness dialect, S1-S2, 'E Festival, Elsie Cowe, Field of Noss Quaich between classes M40 to M44, John Munro Shield: 1 Lily Byrne, Thurso High School.
Caithness dialect, P6, Coontan' Sheep, John Horne, Field of Noss Quaich between classes M40 to M44, Henrietta Munro Shield: 1 Liam Mackenzie, Halkirk; 2 Evie Cormack, Reay. Caithness dialect P7, 'E Moogie, John Horne, Field of Noss Quaich between classes M40 to M44, Omand Shield: 1 Shannon May, Halkirk; 2 Chloe Craigie, Pennyland.
Chanter 10 years and under, march, Practice Chanter Shield Primary: 1 Andrew Sinclair, Latheron; 2 Johnny Bridge, Thurso; 3 Kirsty Gunn, Castletown. Chanter 11 years and over, march, Practice Chanter Shield Secondary: 1 Louisa Donn, Thurso; 2 Scott McArthur, Thurso.
Bagpipes, primary school, march, Bagpipes Shield March Primary: 1 Glenn Miller, Watten; 2 Morven Miller, Watten. Bagpipes, march, Piping Challenge Shield March: 1 Anna Magee; 2eq Cameron Clark, Barrock, and Murray Mackenzie.
Bagpipes, strathspey and reel, Bagpipes Shield Strathspey and Reel: 1 Cameron Clark, Barrock; 2eq Arran King, Sordale, and Murray Mackenzie.
Electronic keyboard solo, primary school: 1 Rachel Mackay, Wick: 2 Martha Potts, Caithness.
Violin/viola/cello/bass solo, grade 4, Mentiplay Shield, violin/viola or Williams Shield cello/bass between classes H5 and H6: 1 Leah Bullivant, Caithness.
Violin/viola/cello/bass solo, grade 5, Mentiplay Shield, violin/viola or Williams Shield cello/bass between classes H5 and H6: 1 Rebekah Bullivant, Caithness; 2 Talitha Williamson, Caithness.
Violin/viola/cello/bass solo, preliminary: 1 Olivia Singh, Castletown; 2 Beth McColm, Caithness.
Classical guitar solo, secondary school: 1 Ewan Bartlett, Wick High School. Violin/viola/cello/bass solo, grade 2, Jack Duncan Memorial Shield between classes H3 and H4 (violin/viola) or Buchanan Shield (cello/bass): 1 Eliana Williamson, Caithness.
Violin/viola/cello/bass solo, grade 3, Jack Duncan Memorial Shield between classes H3 and H4 (violin/viola) or Buchanan Shield (cello/bass): 1 Blythe Bullen, Forse; 2 Hannah McColm, Caithness; 3 Claire Elizabeth McAdam.
Premier Challenge Cup: Clemency Crow. Muriel Wilcock Memorial Shield: Sarah McColm. Mrs Humphries Caithness Glass Trophies: Clemency and Virginia Crow. Margaret Green Quaich: Clemency Crow.
