QM's Annual Music Competition

All of this week, our musicians have been competing in the various rounds of our Young Musician of the Year competition. The competition culminated in the public Advanced Final last night where the standard was exemplary across the board.

Congratulations to Lucinda (LVI) who took the overall prize for her beautiful clarinet performance.

Music teacher Mr Reeve told us more...

Young Musician of the Year Competitions have the potential to delight, surprise, and wow audiences and this year’s event did all three in spades. In the days before last night’s final, we have been treated to a vast array of performances across the elementary and intermediate classes. All entrants to the competition should be congratulated for their achievements.

Last night’s advanced competition was exceptional. Thirteen high-level performances were given with something for everyone, whether that is bombastic South American rhythms or greats from 19th Century Italian Opera. The competition judge, Rachel Derbyshire, remarked on the variety and the overall quality of musicianship across all the entries and therefore how challenging it is to pick one winner. When performances appear so natural and effortless it is easy to forget the years of hard work that have gone into honing musical skills.

Following the competition, final musicians were welcomed to the annual Music Dinner, a celebration of all things musical. This event runs on many traditions. 'Good Egg', extra-curricular, and academic awards were presented to many deserving pupils and students. This year marked the return of "silly prizes" including 'Chops of Steel', 'Honorary Sock', and 'Taking the Biscuit'. An element of the evening I was initially baffled by was the hoe-down. A Whose Line Is It Anyway game from decades past, in which all were challenged to write a verse for the hoe-down on the basis of a stimulus provided by the Director of Music. The evening ended with all in good spirits.

We would like to thank the Catering, Housekeeping, and IT departments for their hard work in helping to make this event a success.

Musician of the Year Results

Elementary Singing

Winner - Lucy (IV)

Most Improved - India (I)

Elementary Piano/Percussion

Winner - Imi (IV)

Highly Commended - Belle (III) and Karis (LVI)

Most Improved - Matilda (II) and Heidi (II)

Elementary Woodwind/Brass

Winner - Megan (III)

Highly Commended - Jennifer (LVI)

Intermediate Singing

Winner - Hannah (IV)

Intermediate Piano/Percussion

Winner - Lena (UVI)

Highly Commended - Zoe (LVI)

Intermediate Woodwind/Brass

Winner - Yanni (LVI)

Highly Commended - Ingrid (V)

Overall elementary winner

Imi Flower (IV)

Overall intermediate winner

Yanni (LVI)

Advanced competition

Winner - Lucinda (LVI)

Highly Commended - Karis (LVI), Audris (IV), Zoe (LVI), Freya (LVI)

ABRSM Examinations

Well done to all girls who sat ABRSM examinations this term. At every grade, these exams challenge musicians to achieve at the highest level, assessing skills in performance, technique, notation, and aural ability. This term, all candidates passed with merit or with distinction, which is an exceptional outcome.