Gala concert showcases talent of musical youth in Arun and beyond

Andy, 18, a student at Philip Howard Catholic High School, Barnham, won the title with a fine performance of Fauré’s Fantasie, in Saturday’s (March 31) gala concert at Windlesham House School, Washington.

Adjudicators Andrew Bernardi and Ben Hall had the unenviable task of making their final selections for the top awards, after slimming down the field at the classes stage three weeks earlier.

Windlesham’s sports hall had a near-capacity audience of families, well-wishers, music lovers and community leaders for this year’s climax to the competition, organised once again by Littlehampton Rotary Club and its Arun Young Musician committee chairman Sue Alcock.

They were treated to an afternoon impressive of impressive performances by solo and group singers, instrumentalists, choirs and ensembles, highlighting the wealth of musical talent among the young, and very young, of this part of West Sussex. This year’s runner-up, receiving the Vi Casey Trophy, was Zoe Barnett, 12, also from Chichester, who showed her versatility by playing the first and second movements of Handel’s sonata in C on the flute, and later turning to the guitar for a lively performance of Spanish composer Diego Pujol’s Preludio Triston.

Tim Rumsey, 12, from Barnham, picked up two awards, the Rotary Club of Littlehampton Trophy for most promising musician and the Dennis Cup for Composition, shared this year between Tim as the over-12 winner and Poppy McGhee, seven, of Westergate, the under-12 winner.

Timothy certainly demonstrated his promise playing the first movement of Weber’s second clarinet concerto, then his own piano composition, Lighthouse Blues and, after the interval, Czerny’s piano study no. 2.

St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School Band, from Littlehampton, triumphed in the school/youth band section, receiving the Littlehampton Concert Band Trophy.

Other trophy winners: Paul Backwell Trophy for vocalist under 12 years, Kitty Casey, of Worthing; Rustington Music Group Trophy for instrumentalist under 12, Kenji Luc, of Chichester; Susannah Flegg Trophy, vocalist over 12, Lily Easton, of Pulborough; Raven Cup for instrumentalist over 12, Alex Carman, of Middleton; Ruth Dyson Trophy for ensemble, Easton Trio, of Pulborough; Arun Choral Society Shield and Award for junior choir, Downview School, Felpham; Angmering Chorale Bursary for vocalist, shared by Laila Needham, of Westergate, and Isobel Johnstone, of Nyetimber; Sinfonia of Arun Bursary for instrumentalist, Dominic Lelean, of Worthing; award for consistent performance, Sophia Agricola.