Students impress at Young Musician competition

Monday evening saw Churchill students perform for the coveted title of Churchill Music's! Young Musician of the Year. The concert and competition is just one example of the valuable partnership between Churchill Music! and the Academy.

Eight students competed in this year’s competition, entertaining the audience with song, piano, guitar, violin and cello solos.  

Anna Lalande (Yr13) won the overall prize for her vocal performances of ‘A delmio dolce ardour’, ‘Ungluckliche Liebe’ and ‘Waltz of my Heart’. The judges—Melanie Ragge, Alice Harper and Adrian Trapp—expressed their delight at the standard of competition, and emphasised that there should be no disappointment for anyone, despite the results.

Prizes for the evening also included the Junior trophy which went to George Skeen (Yr11) for his violin performance. The judges commented on what an improvement George had made in the last year. The audience voted for Joe Richardson (Yr12) who played ‘Seal Lullaby’ by Eric Whitacre as well as his own composition. The final prize of the evening went to Molly Sprouting (Yr11), who won the Raymond Hayter Song prize.

Chris Hildrew, Headteacher, commented “The amazing concert tonight is testament to the hours and hours of careful practice that the performers put in, along with the support and encouragement of their teachers and families. We’re very proud of all the young musicians, whose energy and enthusiasm entertained and moved the audience tonight and showed great potential for the future of music at Churchill.”

Following Monday’s performance, all the students are invited to play at the Young Artists Showcase at St Georges, Bristol. “The concert was so much more than a show of young talent. It is a testament to the atmosphere of Churchill, where music is at the heart of education. Something we feel passionately about at Churchill Music!,” said Jan Murray, Churchill Music!