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