Blue Coat Music Festival 2017

Katie Baker is The Blue Coat School Young Musician of the Year 2017. After what had been a most exciting and enjoyable inaugural Music Festival, the School Hall was buzzing with anticipation as the curtain rose on our Gala Concert.

The was an air of excitement as our adjudicator, Mrs Karen Cousins, announced the winner at the end of the concert. Katie played with an eloquence, a sense of musicianship, and a musical understanding above and beyond her years; indeed Mrs Cousins was quite moved by Katie’s passion for and enjoyment of the music she shared with the audience.

Mrs Cousins, formerly Director of Music at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Wakefield, and an experienced festival adjudicator, heard the semi-finalists play yesterday and selected the class winners to go forward to the Gala Concert. Mrs Cousins gave each performer feedback after they had played, often suggesting a few tips and tricks to help improve their performances in the future.

Whether in the heats, the semi-finals or the final, the children have been outstanding. Their enthusiasm, support for and encouragement of each other has been befitting of our School values and they are to be commended for this. By taking part in the Festival, the children have each earned points for their Houses. These will be put forward and added to the end of year totals.

I am extremely proud of all the pupils who took part in the Festival. They have such talent, such confidence, and their playing was always to the best of their ability. I hope the children have found it to be a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.

It has been a privilege for me to hear them perform and I am looking forward to next year already.

Junior Woodwind Class Winner
Tom Isaac

Junior Piano Class Winner
Rufus Powell

Junior Strings Class Winner
Mahshami Ahmed

Junior Voice Class Winner
Gracie Wynne

Intermediate Piano Class Winner
Hasan Ahmed

Intermediate Brass Class Winners (joint)
Roshan Bahia
Amulya Maganty

Intermediate Strings Class Winners (joint)
Monique James-Thomas
Henry Trevis

Intermediate Voice Class Winner
Gracie Roberts

Intermediate Woodwind Class Winner
Ben Woodward

Intermediate Drum Kit Class Winner
Shai Thompson

Advanced Voice Class Winner
Hannah Smith

Advanced Piano Class WInners (joint)
Lazara Do
Rosabella Sung

Advanced Strings Class Winners (joint)
Sophie Reason
Katie Baker

MR NICKLIN

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