Prizes for Competitors, A Treat for Listeners

Listeners had a treat at the Instrumental Finals on Sunday 25th June, when junior and adult musicians nominated by each of the adjudicators competed for the instrumental finals. We heard some exceptional performances on piano, strings, woodwind and brass from competitors aged 9 (or under) upwards. They performed in front of a panel of two adjudicators, Paul Harris and Anthony Williams, who had the unenviable job of choosing the winners.

Vocal prizewinners were decided by Melanie Armitstead, the vocal adjudicator, during the song classes on Friday and Saturday 23rd and 24th June.

The Final Concert on Monday 26th June gave everyone another opportunity to hear some of the prizewinners and other notable performances, and was enjoyed by all.

Prizewinners were:

The John Durrant Prize for the best instrumentalist aged 18 or under: Sasha Canter

The Cooper Cup for the best instrumentalist aged over 18: Brian Thomas

The John Miller Prize, for the best singer aged 28 or under in the Song Recital classes: Cathy Sim

The Wantage Town Shield for the best singer aged over 28: Shelley Cox

Our thanks go to the Wantage Town Council for sponsoring the Instrumental Finals afternoon, and to the Guild of King Alfred Players, the Wantage Town Council, and Alan Cooper for donating the prizes.

Also to all the performers throughout the Festival, who all worked hard to produce performances that we could enjoy, and to the adjudicators who encouraged, taught and inspired the competitors while assessing them, and gave many hints and tips to show how they might take their performing to the next level.