Ellesmere Excels at Oswestry Youth Music Festival

Ellesmere College and former Ellesmere College pupils turned in solid performances at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival this year - competing in 34 of the 74 classes, winning 19 and achieving 59 out of 84 1st, 2nd or 3rd places.

The college traditionally performs particularly well in the Vocal classes and this year won the 12 and Under, 15 and Under, and 18 and Under classes as well as the 16 and Under, and 21 and Under Youth Choir classes with the Lower School Choir and Chapel Choir.

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Above l-to-r: Huw Lloyd, Lewis Reardon, Molly Fry, Lucy Conway 

Singers Charlie Wood and Huw Lloyd took first and second place in the 18 and Under class with Lewis Reardon and Amy Storey-Gibbons taking joint third place.

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Above l-to-r: Huw Lloyd, Charlie Wood, Molly Fry, Amy Storey-Gibbons 

In the 15 and Under class, Noah Fisher gained first place with Your Song by Elton John and Duarte Gomez came in third when he became the first rapper in the Festival's history. Isobel Philbin won both the Own Choice and Musical Theatre 12&U classes with You Raise Me Up and On My Own, respectively.

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Above left: Noah Fisher and Duarte Gomez. Above right: Isobel Philbin

In the 18 and Under class Musical Theatre, Old Ellesmerian Kizzy Lumley-Edwards took first place, Huw Lloyd, came second with Proud of Your Boy from Aladdin, and Amy Storey-Gibbons came third.

a_Vocal_Musical_Theatre_Aged_18_and_Under_2nd_Place_Huw_Lloyd_who_sang_Proud_of_Your_Boy_from_Aladdin.__2_aa_Musical_Theatre_Aged_18_and_Under_2nd_Group_1st_Place_Kizzy_Lumley_Edwards_OE_3rd_Place_Amy_Storey___Gibbons_Year_13

Above left: Huw Lloyd  Above right: Kizzy Lumley Edwards and Amy Storey-Gibbons

We were delighted to see Old Ellesmerian Jakob Fradley take 1st place in the 21&U class and then go on to win the Oswestry Town Council Cup with a brilliant performance of The Green Eyed Dragon.

Robyn Welti and Anouska Newton (Year 13) won the vocal duet 21 and Under class with an impressive performance of Songbird by Eva Cassidy - a performance they will be repeating at the Ellesmere College Lent Music Concert on March 25th.

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Above l-to-r: Robyn Welti and Anouska Newton 

The Lower School Choir performed with huge energy as they sang 'The Bare Necessities' and 'I'm a Believer', and the Chapel Choir's performance of 'Mr Blue Sky' was electrifying, ensuring wins for both choirs.

And when the Ellesmere College students picked up their instruments, they also impressed.

Molly Fry (Year 12) won both the 18 and Under, and 21 and Under classes for Brass, and Freddie Heasmer-Jones performed a beautiful rendition of 'Memory' from Cats to win the 15 and Under Strings class. Alex Hu showed great maturity in his playing winning both the 12 and Under Strings and in teaming up with Lucinda Bound of Oswestry to win the instrumental duet category for students for 12 and Under class. Kit Fisher won the 12 and Under Drumkit class with his rendition of 'Come Together' and Jack Arrowsmith played brilliantly to secure the 21 and Under Drumkit with Backing Track.

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Above left: Molly Fry   Above right: Kit Fisher 

The Lower School Band brought the Festival to life with their performance of 'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift and the Senior Orchestra performed a medley from Les Miserables, both securing wins in their classes.

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Above left: Eva Ford   Above right: Lucy Chadwick and Josh Norris

Ellesmere College Director of Music Tony Coupe said: "Ellesmere has performed outstandingly well at this year's Oswestry Youth Music Festival, achieving a very high level of first, second and third places at individual level as well as unforgettable performances from our ensembles.

"We competed in 34 classes and achieved first place in 19. In Sunday's final, I was very proud that 6 of the 14 finalists were from Ellesmere. We achieved a fantastic set of results from a very strong field and I am proud of each and every one of our participants.

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Above l-to-r: Old Ellesmerians Kizzy Lumley Edwards, Rhian-Carys Jones and Jacob Fradley; Huw Lloyd 

"It has been a delight to hear live music once again and my thanks go to Sue Turner and the stewards for organising the Festival. We look forward to sharing some of these performances with parents and friends at our Lent Music Concert on Friday, March 25th."

For more information on music provision at Ellesmere College visit www.ellesmere.com.

Main image: 

L-t-R - Front row: Izzy Philbin, Kit Fisher, Eva Ford, Alex Hu - Back Row:  Molly Fry, Noah Fisher

Class

Place

Entrant

Category

Trophy

20

1

Alex Hu

String Solo 12 & Under

The Leondari Award

21

1

Freddie Heasmer-Jones

String Solo 15 & Under

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Cup

21

3

Kyara Heward

String Solo 15 & Under

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Cup

40

1

Alex Hu (& Friend Lucinda Bound)

Instrumental Duet 12 & Under

The Myfanwy and Gabriel Award

42

2

Alfie & Freddie Heasmer-Jones

Instrumental Duet 18 & Under

The Stans Superstore Award

26

3

Emilia O'Mahony

Woodwind Solo 15 & Under

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Cup

27

3

Molly Fry

Woodwind Solo 18 & Under

The Olympic Trophy

27

3

Alfie Heasmer-Jones

Woodwind Solo 18 & Under

The Olympic Trophy

28

2

Molly Fry

Woodwind Solo 21 & Under

Oswestry & District Arts Association Cup

7

3

Yuening Li

Piano Solo

Schofield Award

32

1

Molly Fry

Brass Solo 18 & Under

Timothy Doyle Award

33

1

Molly Fry

Brass Solo 21 & Under

Bernard Mitchell Trophy

34

1

Kit Fisher

Drum Solo 9 & Under

Recorded Music Society Trophy

35

1

Kit Fisher

Drum Solo 12 & Under

The Kynaston Award

39

2

Noah Fisher

Drum Solo Under 15 With Backing Track

Paradiddle Trophy

39

3

Kit Fisher

Drum Solo Under 15 With Backing Track

Paradiddle Trophy

39

3

Freddie Heasmer-Jones

Drum Solo Under 15 With Backing Track

Paradiddle Trophy

36

2

Noah Fisher

Drum Solo Under 15

Bowen & Watson Sheild

39a

1

Jack Arrowsmith

Drum Solo 21 & Under with Backing track

Stans Superstore Award

39a

3

Alfie Heasmer-Jones

Drum Solo 21 & Under with Backing track

Stans Superstore Award

49

1

Ellesmere Rockers (LS Band)

Instrumental Ensemble 15 & Under

The Med Aid Award

55

1

Ellesmere Orchestra

Youth Orchestra 25 & Under

The High Sheriffs Award

60

1

Isobel Philbin

Vocal Solo 12 & Under

Rose Pinches

64

1

Noah Fisher

Vocal Solo 15 & Under

The Standish Cup

64

3

Duarte Gomez

Vocal Solo 15 & Under

The Standish Cup

67

1

Charlie Wood

Vocal Solo 18 & Under

The Dario Silcock Cup

67

2

Huw Lloyd

Vocal Solo 18 & Under

The Dario Silcock Cup

67

3

Lewis Reardon

Vocal Solo 18 & Under

The Dario Silcock Cup

67

3

Amy Storey-Gibbons

Vocal Solo 18 & Under

The Dario Silcock Cup

69

1

Jacob Fradley (OE)

Vocal Solo 21 & Under

Turner Trophy

69

2

Huw Lloyd

Vocal Solo 21 & Under

Turner Trophy

69

2

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Vocal Solo 21 & Under

Turner Trophy

69

3

Rhian-Carys Jones (OE)

Vocal Solo 21 & Under

Turner Trophy

66

1

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Vocal Solo Test Piece 18 & Under

The Way Ahead Senior Trophy

66

3

Lewis Reardon

Vocal Solo Test Piece 18 & Under

The Way Ahead Senior Trophy

74

1

Anouska Newton & Robyn Welti

Vocal Duet 21 & Under

The Dennis Ford Trophy

65

2

Josh Norris

Unaccompanied Folk Song 15 & Under

The Mary Cruikshank Trophy

65

3

Lucy Chadwick

Unaccompanied Folk Song 15 & Under

The Mary Cruikshank Trophy

79

2

Ellesmere Heroes (KS2)

Musical Theatre up to 20 performers (12 & Under)

The Fixauto Award

77

1

Ellesmere Youth Choir (Yr 7&8)

Youth Choir 16 & Under

The Wilfrid Owen Cup

78

1

Chapel Choir

Youth Choir 21 & Under

Matt Dewhirst Cup

78

1

Chamber Choir

Youth Choir 21 & Under

Matt Dewhirst Cup

75

1

Well Toned (Lucy Conway, Molly Fry, Huw Lloyd, Lewis Reardon)

Vocal Ensemble 21 & Under

The David Davies Memorial Trophy

70

1

Jacob Fradley (OE)

Oratorio 21 & Under

Stans Superstore Vocal Award

70

2

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Oratorio 21 & Under

Stans Superstore Vocal Award

70

3

Rhian-Carys Jones (OE)

Oratorio 21 & Under

Stans Superstore Vocal Award

71

1

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Opera 21 & Under

Rotary Club Of Oswestry

71

3

Jacob Fradley (OE)

Opera 21 & Under

Rotary Club Of Oswestry

72

1

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Gilbert & Sullivan 21 & Under

John J Pritchard Cup

72

2

Huw Lloyd

Gilbert & Sullivan 21 & Under

John J Pritchard Cup

61a

1

Eva Ford

Musical Theatre 12 & Under

The Way Ahead Junior Trophy

61a

2

Tabitha Gallagher

Musical Theatre 12 & Under

The Way Ahead Junior Trophy

61a

3

Imogen Edwards

Musical Theatre 12 & Under

The Way Ahead Junior Trophy

61

1

Isobel Philbin

Musical Theatre 12 & Under

The May Gwendoline Joynes

64b

3

Noah Fisher

Musical Theatre 15 & Under

Dance Factory Trophy

68b

1

Kizzy Lumley Edwards (OE)

Musical Theatre 18 & Under

Weston Pools Trophy

68a

2

Huw Lloyd

Musical Theatre 18 & Under

The Business & Professional Womens Cup

68a

2

Huw Lloyd

Musical Theatre 18 & Under

Business & Professional Womens Cup

68b

3

Amy Storey-Gibbons

Musical Theatre 18 & Under

Weston Pools Trophy

10th March 2022  Back to News