Harmonious triumphs at The Queen's School Music Festival 2024
Posted on 1st Mar 2024 in School News, Competition, Music
Girls from across The Queen's Senior School in Chester enjoyed competing in the annual Music Festival.
In a symphony of skill and passion, The Queen's School Music Festival is always a special event, bringing together girls from across all year groups at the Senior School for a celebration of musical excellence.
With an impressive array of categories, including strings, wind, piano, classical and popular vocal, as well as ensembles, the diverse talents across the school were on full display.
The school was filled with a buzz of excitement as girls from Years 7 to 13 performed to external judges who had the difficult task of choosing the winners.
Adding a new and harmonious dimension to this year's festival was the House Choir competition. The four Houses – Westminster, Thompson, Sandford, and Hastings – competed passionately to claim the title of the winning House. The competition wasn't just about musical excellence; it embodied the spirit of unity, collaboration, and of course, a bit of competitive fun.
The hard work put in by the girls across all year groups was truly commendable and showcases the value and strength of our House system in bringing girls from different years together, promoting a sense of community and shared achievement.
After four renditions of choir pieces, our external adjudicators, Teleri Barker and Ann Atkinson, chose to award Thompson with the House Choir Trophy. Lilli Jones, a music A-level student in Year 13 coached and conducted the choir.
Head of Music Mrs Davies said: “I could not be more proud of the dedication and hard work put in by each and every performer. The girls are responsible for preparing their entry for the Music Festival and the event is a superb opportunity for them to showcase their talent and build their confidence. I love to see the girls sitting in the audience supporting their friends, often friends they are competing against but that does not matter to them, they are always there for each other. The House Choir competition was a new addition this year and was a resounding success. Well done to everyone who took part!”
The eagerly awaited winners' final followed on from the House competition. The talented victors from each category took the stage once again, this time in front of a captivated audience of parents.
The runner-up of the festival was Grace Crook who is studying music A-level at Queen's and immerses herself in the co-curricular aspect of the school. During the day she competed in many competitions including an ensemble performance with Tess Wilkin-Whitlow in Year 8.
GCSE music pupil Alicia Johnstone in Year 11 performed a breathtaking performance of Arabesque by Debussy on piano and was awarded the 'Musicality' trophy.
To draw the competition to a close, there could only be one winner. Colette Hong in Year 8 performed a virtuosic piece on her cello. She is a member of the Liverpool Youth Academy Philharmonic Orchestra and contributes greatly to all ensembles and concerts in school.
The Queen's School Music Festival 2024 is not merely a showcase of musical talent; it is a celebration of the school's commitment to nurturing the holistic development of its pupils.
The array of talent on display was incredible, from beginners to advanced performers, we value the importance of giving everyone opportunities like this, building confidence, supporting each other, and celebrating together.