Our Prep School pupils represented the school at this year’s Taunton Festival of the Arts, an annual regional music competition. They performed brilliantly with many coming home with medals and trophies. The highlight of the event was the year 7&8 choir winning 1st place in the prestigious ‘Precilla Hodgson Choral Trophy’ for their superb performances of the energetic, hip-hop inspired song ‘Sing’, and Mozart’s anthem ‘Ave Verum Corpus’. The Junior Choir also completed and came 2nd in the county for their category.

A huge congratulations to every individual and ensemble member who took part, in particular the following high-achievers who were among the best in Somerset for their age category:

Harry F – Winner of Piano Class 10 and Under

Lewis O – Winner of Piano Solo Jazz Repertoire 12 and Under, plus also runner up for the Bach Shield

James F – Winner of Piano Solo Grade 5

James S – Winner of Brass Solo 10 Years and Under Paul Billings Cup

Chloe D – Winner of the Staplegrove Cup Vocal Solo category.

Katie S – Winner of Woodwind Solo 12 Yeas and Under

Katie S and Florence L – Winners of Woodwind Duet category

Esme H – Winner of John Playll Cup Vocal Solo

Isabelle G – Winner of Rougier Cup Folk Song Solo

Sophia O – Winner of the Vocal Solo category with Distinction, in which Esme H and Aquilla N also won 2nd and 3rd place, both also with Distinction.

Matilda W – Winner of the Harp Solo Primary Trophy and String Solo Keynes Wyatt Trophy

Forest W – Winner of Harp Solo 10 Years and Under

Eleanor D – Winner of Pop Vocal category

Olivia B – 2nd place in Woodwind Solo 10 Years and Under

Emily D and Chloe D – Winners of Duet Category. Emily also won 2nd place in this same category playing Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto with James F.

Emily and James also came 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the highly competitive String Solo 10 Years and Under category.