Young Musician (Vocalist) Competition

Following the very successful instrumentalist competition last week, the club held its Young Musician (vocalist) competition in Cowbridge School on the evening of Thursday 16th October. There were 7 competitors from Cowbridge and Llantwit Major schools, singing a wide range of classical, light and popular songs. William Davies started off the evening with the traditional Dalmation Cradle Song followed by Chim Chim Chiminee from Mary Poppins. Olivia Chester, who also competed in the instrumentalist competition last week proved herself to be an accomplished singer as well. Se sang Panis Angelicus by Franck followed by Long Ago and Far Away by Jerome Kern. Thomas Colgan accompanied himself on guitar and sang 2 pop songs - Stay With Me by Sam Smith followed by I Can't Make You Love Me by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. It was good to hear at least one song in Welsh from Charlotte Edwards who sang Mae Hiraeth yn y Mor by Dilys Elwyn Edwards followed by Out of my Dreams from the musical Oklahoma.

Third prize was awarded to Tom Johnson for his rendition of Where is Love from Oliver by Lionel Bart, then Electricity from Billy Elliot by Elton John. Second prize went to Elinor Parsons for A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square by Maschwitz and Sherwin and I Feel Pretty from the musical West Side Story which was written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. The first prize in this competition went to Verity Belle Atkinson who sang beautifully O Del Mio Dolce Ardour by Gluck. Her second piece If I Loved You from Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein was sung with great feeling and dramatic style. When the judges retired to make their very difficult decisions, the audience was treated to Cowbridge School's own jazz band, made up of students between the ages of 11 and 17. Jazz is not the easiest of music to play, but led by Head of performing Arts, Adrian Colbourne on the piano, they gave a wonderful performance of several tunes. The judging panel comprised Nic Treharne, Matthew Nash and professional operatic baritone Wyn Pencarreg, who complimented all of the competitors on their artistic performances and gave advice and comment on each of the performances. First prize winner Verity Belle Atkinson, will go forward to the next round of the competition, which will be held in Neath in February 2015.