Leith Hill Musical Festival 2010

Open Competitions for Youth Choirs

Dorking Halls

Reviewed by Simon Ames

A fine initiative by past Leith Hill Musical Festival (LHMF) management, this annual competition for youth choirs is aimed at stimulating the younger generations of Surrey and Sussex with the sense of achievement that comes from singing in groups and the pleasure of learning about good music.

This year, 23 choirs embracing 650 boys and girls, each choir with their own conductor, convened at Dorking Halls to perform and to be adjudicated.

The format provides for small and large choirs ranging from seven-year olds up to 18 years-plus.

Capably managed by an experienced LHMF team led by Felicity Hill, a steady stream of school choirs filed on to the large stage in the glare of theatrical lighting to voice their chosen songs.

Throughout the day, plenty of partisan support from family and friends in the audience helped to create a warm and friendly sense of occasion that seemed to urge the youngsters to perform at their best.

The occasion was held together by Ges Ray as the avuncular and well-informed master of ceremonies and by the highly experienced adjudicator Soo Bishop whose end-of-class lectures to the young singers provided many thoughtful ideas for improving quality of sound and performance.

Results

Class 1 : Seven years and under

1st – Abinger Common and Westcott First School Choir, conductor – Avril Sharman

Class 2 : 11 years and under, small choirs

1st - Star Choir – St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Crawley, conductor – Marcin Szymczyk

Adjudicator's Choice : The Wyke Choir, Wyke Primary School, Normandy, Guildford, conductors – Sarah James and Deborah King

Class 3: 11 years and under, large choirs

1st: St Paul's Singers, St Paul's Church of England Junior School, Kingston, conductor – Alison Renvoize

Adjudicator's Choice: Dunottar School Junior Choir, Reigate, conductor – Emma Denny

Class 4 : 18 years and under

1st : The Beacon Singers, Beacon School, Banstead, conductor – Emily Assen

Class 5 : Mixed youth class

1st: Rosebery Singers, Rosebery School, Epsom, conductor – Kate Cheetham