Saturday 15th June 2019
Twenty four violinists/viola players from Village Violin School travelled ALL the way to The Kingsley School, Leamington yesterday to compete in the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival classes.
I am delighted to announce that Burcin won two of her classes (we are waiting to hear the result of her recital programme, later today) playing Chanson de Nuit and Black Eyes with a beautiful sound and excellent bow control and vibrato.
The Beginners, The Improvers and a combined Improvers/Seniors group played in the Under 13 Class and I am proud to write that their excellent performances gained many compliments from the adjudicator.
The Improvers were awarded The Twentyman Trophy, winning the class for their performance of ‘Pirate Pieces of Ten’ played by Natalie, Alice, Emily H, Zoe, Lydia, Una, Marcus, Maisy, Dan and Mila (violas).
The Beginners (Marcus, Daisy, Margot, Riley, Lydia, Maisy, Freida, Amy, Georgina and Harry), playing ‘Apples Strictly Twinkling Down’ were awarded joint Second Place with the Improvers/Seniors (Laura, Emily, Dan, Anna, Olivia, Natalie, Alice, Charlie, Mila, Lydia, Emily H, Zoe, Una and Marcus, Amy - cello) playing ‘Classic Bits and Pieces’.
In the Under 18 Class the Seniors (Dan, Anna, Alice, Laura, Emily R, Mila, Burcin, Charlie, Olivia and Amy - cello) played Pachelbel’s Canon. These players excelled themselves and exceeded my wildest hopes for their performance. I was delighted and impressed by this outstanding performance, as was the audience as a whole.
Laura, Emily, Anna and Olivia played Telemann’s Adagio and Allegro for Four Violins fighting off highly competent opposition in a large class of small groups to win the 13 years and under class and The Simon Richards Award. This was presented by Anita Richards in memory of her son, Simon, who was a keen young violinist who died aged 12 in 2015. We are honoured to be the first recipients of this award and I feel that the hard work and gorgeous playing of the quartet made the award a well-deserved one. I hope Anita agrees also.
The final class of the day was a superb performance of French Folk Song by Alice, Natalie, Mila and Amy, well done for superb sound, counting and ensemble, girls!
This was rounded off with a Polka, which included a few thrills and spills, played by Dan, Charlie, Chandima and Amy.
What a wonderful day of truly top quality violin/viola/cello playing to bring the year’s performances, practising and learning together nearly to a close. Thank you to everyone involved.
Twenty four violinists/viola players from Village Violin School travelled ALL the way to The Kingsley School, Leamington yesterday to compete in the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival classes.
I am delighted to announce that Burcin won two of her classes (we are waiting to hear the result of her recital programme, later today) playing Chanson de Nuit and Black Eyes with a beautiful sound and excellent bow control and vibrato.
The Beginners, The Improvers and a combined Improvers/Seniors group played in the Under 13 Class and I am proud to write that their excellent performances gained many compliments from the adjudicator.
The Improvers were awarded The Twentyman Trophy, winning the class for their performance of ‘Pirate Pieces of Ten’ played by Natalie, Alice, Emily H, Zoe, Lydia, Una, Marcus, Maisy, Dan and Mila (violas).
The Beginners (Marcus, Daisy, Margot, Riley, Lydia, Maisy, Freida, Amy, Georgina and Harry), playing ‘Apples Strictly Twinkling Down’ were awarded joint Second Place with the Improvers/Seniors (Laura, Emily, Dan, Anna, Olivia, Natalie, Alice, Charlie, Mila, Lydia, Emily H, Zoe, Una and Marcus, Amy - cello) playing ‘Classic Bits and Pieces’.
In the Under 18 Class the Seniors (Dan, Anna, Alice, Laura, Emily R, Mila, Burcin, Charlie, Olivia and Amy - cello) played Pachelbel’s Canon. These players excelled themselves and exceeded my wildest hopes for their performance. I was delighted and impressed by this outstanding performance, as was the audience as a whole.
Laura, Emily, Anna and Olivia played Telemann’s Adagio and Allegro for Four Violins fighting off highly competent opposition in a large class of small groups to win the 13 years and under class and The Simon Richards Award. This was presented by Anita Richards in memory of her son, Simon, who was a keen young violinist who died aged 12 in 2015. We are honoured to be the first recipients of this award and I feel that the hard work and gorgeous playing of the quartet made the award a well-deserved one. I hope Anita agrees also.
The final class of the day was a superb performance of French Folk Song by Alice, Natalie, Mila and Amy, well done for superb sound, counting and ensemble, girls!
This was rounded off with a Polka, which included a few thrills and spills, played by Dan, Charlie, Chandima and Amy.
What a wonderful day of truly top quality violin/viola/cello playing to bring the year’s performances, practising and learning together nearly to a close. Thank you to everyone involved.
Saturday 30th June 2018
The Village Violin School Improvers took part in the Composition Class at the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival on 30th June 2018 and I am delighted to announce that we were awarded joint First Place and the James Barralet Trophy for the outstanding performance of our own composition, 'Dazzle'.
This piece has three sections:
1. Illusion by Dan
2. Reflection by Laura
3. Jubilation by Olivia, Alice, Emily R, Natalie, Una, Emily H, Gracie, Mila, Anna, Charlie, Mikey and Zoe
Oliver Francis's Prelude for solo piano was the well-deserved joint winner. Oliver is a sixth form student in Solihull.
I am exceptionally proud of all the members of the Village Violin School groups for their hard work, commitment and superb performances over the year and we deserve our success this term.
Well done to each and every one of the players and the supporters behind the scenes. Thank you.
The Village Violin School Improvers took part in the Composition Class at the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival on 30th June 2018 and I am delighted to announce that we were awarded joint First Place and the James Barralet Trophy for the outstanding performance of our own composition, 'Dazzle'.
This piece has three sections:
1. Illusion by Dan
2. Reflection by Laura
3. Jubilation by Olivia, Alice, Emily R, Natalie, Una, Emily H, Gracie, Mila, Anna, Charlie, Mikey and Zoe
Oliver Francis's Prelude for solo piano was the well-deserved joint winner. Oliver is a sixth form student in Solihull.
I am exceptionally proud of all the members of the Village Violin School groups for their hard work, commitment and superb performances over the year and we deserve our success this term.
Well done to each and every one of the players and the supporters behind the scenes. Thank you.
Saturday 16th June 2018
The Village Violin School Beginners, with Dan, Laura, Emily, Olivia and Zoe played Tiny Tunes at the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival on 16th June 2018.
We had a great afternoon, rehearsing and watching other violin players too. The performance went really with everyone doing their very best and our group was awarded joint First Prize and the Twentyman Trophy to be shared with the North Birmingham Suzuki Group.
We had some lovely comments from Hilary Sturt, the adjudicator.
She also did an impromptu listening and playing exercise with all the young violinists which was fun and we will try it again on Tuesday. It was such a enjoyable and worthwhile event.
Well done to everyone!
The Village Violin School Beginners, with Dan, Laura, Emily, Olivia and Zoe played Tiny Tunes at the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival on 16th June 2018.
We had a great afternoon, rehearsing and watching other violin players too. The performance went really with everyone doing their very best and our group was awarded joint First Prize and the Twentyman Trophy to be shared with the North Birmingham Suzuki Group.
We had some lovely comments from Hilary Sturt, the adjudicator.
She also did an impromptu listening and playing exercise with all the young violinists which was fun and we will try it again on Tuesday. It was such a enjoyable and worthwhile event.
Well done to everyone!
Saturday 17th June 2017
Members of the violin school enjoyed a great outing to Leamington for the string section of the 2017 Music Festival.
Some children entered the solo classes and Laura was awarded Third Prize in both her classes (and two medals), Dan played extremely well in his large class of 14 entries and was awarded a Merit, and Alice won the Ethel Overbury Trophy in a (rather smaller!) class.
Jasmine played very well in her Grade 7-8 class in preparation for her forthcoming Grade 7 exam and was awarded a Distinction, particularly encouraging since she has also been working through her GCSEs this summer.
The Beginners and Improvers played magnificently in their String Group class later in the day – such a hot day too!
Steven Wilkie, the adjudicator, a Professor at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester was very impressed with our players and we were inspired by the wonderful North Birmingham Suzuki Group (do check out their website), who played Ashokan Farewell with tremendous expertise and all from memory.
This group won the trophy but the Beginners and Improvers were awarded the Outstanding category and the lovely comments from Steven to all the young musicians were to be remembered and treasured.
He said he had felt quite emotional seeing all the youngsters playing together and how well they were progressing. Occasions like this are great for giving everyone a performance to work towards, feedback from another professional and inspiration from seeing other violinists playing together.
I am very proud of what we have all achieved together in less than two years.
Members of the violin school enjoyed a great outing to Leamington for the string section of the 2017 Music Festival.
Some children entered the solo classes and Laura was awarded Third Prize in both her classes (and two medals), Dan played extremely well in his large class of 14 entries and was awarded a Merit, and Alice won the Ethel Overbury Trophy in a (rather smaller!) class.
Jasmine played very well in her Grade 7-8 class in preparation for her forthcoming Grade 7 exam and was awarded a Distinction, particularly encouraging since she has also been working through her GCSEs this summer.
The Beginners and Improvers played magnificently in their String Group class later in the day – such a hot day too!
Steven Wilkie, the adjudicator, a Professor at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester was very impressed with our players and we were inspired by the wonderful North Birmingham Suzuki Group (do check out their website), who played Ashokan Farewell with tremendous expertise and all from memory.
This group won the trophy but the Beginners and Improvers were awarded the Outstanding category and the lovely comments from Steven to all the young musicians were to be remembered and treasured.
He said he had felt quite emotional seeing all the youngsters playing together and how well they were progressing. Occasions like this are great for giving everyone a performance to work towards, feedback from another professional and inspiration from seeing other violinists playing together.
I am very proud of what we have all achieved together in less than two years.