Musical students from Burgess Hill School for Girls excelled in their performances at the Mid Sussex Competitive Music Festival and won a total of 24 awards.

The Festival is an annual amateur event that welcomes musical groups and performers from across Mid Sussex. It is organised by a Committee of volunteers from the community and supported by music teachers, local schools and musical companies.

The Festival was held at Burgess Hill School for Girls over two weekends in November and held categories for Piano, Strings, Woodwind and Brass, and Singing. Four professional adjudicators gave invaluable advice and constructive criticism on the performances and all commented on the high standards of playing and singing in the festival this year.

Over 100 pupils from Burgess Hill School for Girls took part this year, either as soloists or in a variety of Ensembles. The School was also pleased to welcome back Kay Tucker, who taught Cello at the School for a number of years, as the String Adjudicator.

Richard Haslam, Head of Music, spoke of the School’s achievement this year. “Congratulations to all the girls who took part over the two weekends. Win, lose or draw, the most important thing was the experience gained of performing and listening to others perform.”

Burgess Hill School for Girls also hosted the Festival Showcase Concert on Friday 27^th November where many of the winners performed again and winner’s cups were presented by Lucinda Houghton, Vocal Consultant and Principal Singing Tutor at Sussex University.

Burgess Hill School for Girls is pleased to announce the following winners from the school who won their classes:

Piano

Chloe Chan; Phoebe Honey; Lizzie Sykes; Florence Williams and Shirley Yam

Woodwind and Brass

Double Reed Dazzlers (Ardingly College Cup); Anne Elizabeth Garry; Olivia Garry; Lucy Hopson (3 Classes and Mid-Sussex Festival Cup); Sophia Hughes; Georgia King (Senior Woodwind Cup) and the Saxophone Quintet.

Strings

Senior Quartet; Suzuki Strings (Ensemble Cup) and Year 8 Quartet.

Singing

Alice and Polly Beaumont; Chamber Choir; Anne Elizabeth Garry and Beatrice Watkins; Shabnam Gould and Chloe De Souza; Megan Hector; Junior Choir; Georgina Labus; Francesca Morris; Imogen Orchard (Hazel Cup); Rose Salvage and Laura Willis (Ditchling Choral Society Cup).

A selection of the performers from Burgess Hill School for Girls

The Festival is a registered charity and is affiliated with the British and International Federation of Festivals.  For further information about the Mid Sussex Competitive Music Festival visit www.mscmf.org.uk.

24/11/09