Musical youth celebrate victory

LOCAL youngsters are celebrating after an outstanding display at a national music competition.

The Southern Area Youth Orchestra was awarded 200 and the accolade of Outstanding Performance in its class when it took part in the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

The prize was collected by Becci Davies, Leader of the Orchestra, which was awarded for the group's performance programme of Prelude and Mazurka, by Delibes, Masquerade Waltz, by Khachaturian and Crown Imperial, by Walton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Members of the group come from Littlehampton, Worthing, Shoreham and Storrington and managed to beat off competiton from across the country to gain victory.

John Stephens, Chair of the adjudicating panel, summed up the performance by saying: "Good dynamics, well rehearsed, very careful control, good ensemble.

"The structure of the works was understood and conveyed. This was a committed performance displaying fine musical qualities."

David Bennet, Conductor, paid tribute to members of the Orchestra saying: "Four-and-a-half hours on a coach is not the best performance preparation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"However, these young musicians were really focused, worked together extremely well and turned on the style."

The Orchestra is now waiting to hear if it has been selected to perform in the Schools' Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in November.

Related topics: