THE marvellous sound of cellos filled the air as Southend Music Festival got off to a flying start.
Cellists from around the county took part in a day of masterclasses on Saturday at the Crowstone Christian Centre, Westcliff, marking the start of the two-week event.
Each class was watched by renowned adjudicator Mark Messenger, who marked the performances, naming winners in each class.
On Sunday guitarists took centre stage as well as musicians performing duets and chamber music.
The festival, which takes place until Sunday, November 30, is split into five categories, strings, speech, drama, piano, wind instruments and sing-ing, with youngsters performing in different classes for each section.
Adjudicators name a winner in each group, who then receive certificates.
Anette Forkin, one of the festival organisers, said the event’s opening weekend had been a success.
She said: “The first day was lovely. We had lots of cellists from Billericay and Brentwood.
“It’s great for the musicians to perform in front of a live audience and the church hall has been more or less full. All of the musicians are of a very high standard.”
The festival will culminate in a prizewinner’s concert on Sunday, November 30, featuring all the competitors who have been named top of their class.
There is also a £1,000 Freda Parry scholarship award up for grabs to the winner of the singing section.
MORE PICTURES IN TUESDAY'S ECHO
The winning entrants
Results in first, second and third places for Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16:
STRINGS
Violoncello solo ten years and under
1 Heather Wiles
2 Elliot Tolaini
3 Emma Jones
Violoncello solo ten years and under – free choice of music
1 Elliot Tolaini
2 Heather Wiles
3 Emma Jones
Violoncello and bass novices 12 years and under
1 Hannah McDonald
Violoncello solo 12 years and under
1 Alex Rayner
2 Julia Cockcroft
3 Asha Rama
String group class 13 years and under
1 The Nine Cellists
2 The Girls’ Cello Group
Violoncello solo eight years and under – free choice of music
Samantha Whetstone
Violoncello solo eight 8 years and under
Megan Gerlis
Cello and bass any age
Helen Bloom
Junior unaccompanied solo 14 years and under
Rachael Bull
Duet for two violins 14 years and under
Anna and Caroline Penn
Violin solo 12 and 13 years
Kyiah-Rose Marks
Violin solo 15 years and over
Samuel Wright
Group class for plucked instruments any age
Matthew and Martin Gill
Guitar solo 12 to 15 years
Alexandra Abbott
Guitar solo any age
Matthew Gill
Jerry Mayes Challenge Cup and £10 Allegro Music Voucher for the highest mark in Guitar solo classes
Alexandra Abbott
Mandolin solo any age
Sophie-Anne Chaplin
Viola solo 12 years and under
Flora Raybould
Viola solo any age
Arthur Morris
Duet any two stringed Instruments any age
Timothy Blore and Molly-May Walter
Duet for two violoncellos any age
Rachael Bull and Molly-May Walter
Violin solo14 years and under
Sophie-Anne Chaplin
Strings and chamber music any age
The Five Cellists
Duet any stringed instrument and piano any age
Joshua Mayhew and Jonathan Morell (piano)
String group class 18 years and under
The Blores and the Walters 'Cello Quartet
Senior recital class violin, viola, cello, bass 16 years and over
Vincent Morris
Concerto class violin, viola and cello any age
Kyiah-Rose Marks
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