Leigh Music Festival under way on a high note

8:00pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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CLARINETS, recorders and brass instruments wafted notes into the air as the Leigh Music Festival got under way.

Talented youngsters from across the borough are taking part in the annual event, which will see them marked by adjudicators at Highlands Methodist Church, in Sutherland Boulevard, Leigh.

The two-week festival began with the drama section, where children demonstrated their TV news reading skills, Shakespeare and AA Milne verse speaking.

This was followed by the wind and brass section , with jazz performances and brass solos among the classes.

Amanda Taylor, one of the organisers, said: "It's gone very well. It was quite a hectic time."

"Sally Noble, who has been a federation adjudicator since 1973, was very impressed by all the performances. Distinctions are very hard to achieve when Sally is adjudicating, however two entrants gained such recognition."

The first distinction was presented to Thorpe Hall School, who also won the King Edmund Cup for their entry in the junior choral speaking section.

Budding actress Gabrielle Stewart was awarded a distinction for the 17 years and over senior performance class, for which she also received the Phyllis Reader Cup.

The festival will continue with piano, strings, and singing classes, before a prize winners' concert at 7.30pm on Friday, May 23, at the church.

Tickets can be obtained from the reception desk during the festival.