MEMBERS of Bishop Perowne CE College’s orchestra are celebrating after winning their class at the recent Worcester Competitive Arts Festival.
The festival saw budding musicians and actors from across the city test their skills against each other in a number of categories, which included poetry, drama, singing, music and speech.
Featuring 11 students from Year 7 through to Year 10, as well as one former Bishop Perowne student, the school’s orchestra took part in the Open Class for Orchestra or Band and were up against a group of cellists who have won the class for the past few years.
The orchestra performed for 10 minutes in front of talented pianist, and Professor of Piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Michael Young. At the end of the performance, Professor Young commented on how well the orchestra blended, considering some students are in the latter grades on their instrument, and some have only just begun having lessons.
The orchestra was also praised for the dynamics and the emotion they put into the performance, and achieved a distinction, meaning they took home the trophy.
Additionally, a number of students entered individual classes. Lydia Beech won the Under 12 Rock & Pop Vocal Solo category, Joseph Breeze and George Hatfield came joint first in the Under 14 Jazz Solo class, George Hafield also won the Under 12 Woodwind Solo category, and Rose Careswell was awarded the silver prize for the Under 12 Musical Theatre class. All four students achieved distinctions.
Headteacher Mark Pollard, said: “The success is testament to the hard work each musician, and their teachers, put in to mastering their instruments.
“This is the first year we have entered the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival and the students are absolutely thrilled with the success. The extremely positive feedback received by Professor Young has inspired our students to go on and improve, and we will be ensuring the trophy is on display until it’s returned next year for the 2020 competition.”
