A group of musicians from throughout the senior school participated in two busy weeks of performing at the Taunton Festival of the Arts during the start of February. The students presented themselves excellently, with their performances receiving plaudits from the various experienced adjudicators.

The first week saw the piano and instrumental classes, held at Taunton School and Temple Methodist Church respectively, with performers including:

Charlotte A (Y10, Besley) who performed on the French horn, piano and cello, winning her piano class and receiving the Lentells Shield for winning the Brass Solo U14 class. Harry (Y10, Marshall) also received a Merit in the class. Both Harry and Charlotte performed as part of the French horn quartet alongside Rufus H (Y13, Fairwater) and Daniel F (Y11, Goodland) in the small ensemble class.

Freya S (Y9, Bevan) on violin and piano, won all three of her classes on violin, including the Thompson Trophy for Solo U14, and Intermediate Chamber Music Cup as part of the Junior String Quartet alongside Nyasha D (Y10, Woodyer), Carlton C (Y10, Wills West) and Fliss B-G (Y9, Weirfield).

Maddie H (Y9, Jenkin) received the Stallard Shield for Woodwind Solo U14 on clarinet and oboe, Eliza H (Y11, Bevan) received the Senior Brass Trophy for Brass Solo U16 on Trumpet, and Oscar B (Y11, Goodland) received the Berry Cup for Woodwind Recital, with Caleb H (Y10, Evans) also being commended for his performance in the woodwind U14 class.

The second week saw the attention switch to vocal performances at Temple Methodist Church. The performers included:

Eliza H, who performed a large variety of repertoire, winning the Kingston St. Mary Trophy (Vocal Solo, U16) and receiving a number of distinctions (Musical pre-1965, 1960-1999, post-2000 and folk song solo, U16), as well as performing as a duet alongside Lily B (Y11, Jenkin) and winning the Fountains Trophy (Duets, U16). Lily was also commended and received a distinction for her solo performances (Musical pre-1965 and vocal solo, U16).

Isabella S(Y9, Besley), who was commended for her performances (Musical 1960-1999, and post-2000, U14), Freya S(Y9, Bevan) who was commended and received a merit (Vocal solo 1600-1800 and musical 1960-1999, U14), and Chloe K who received a merit and a distinction (Vocal solo 1600-1800 and musical pre-1965, U14).

Amelia J (Y12, Woodyer), who was also commended for her performances (Musical 1960-1999, Vocal solo 1600-1800, and vocal solo, U16). As were Emily V (Y10, Besley) (Vocal solo 1600-1800, Musical pre-1965, and vocal solo, U16), and Chris W (Y10, Evans) (Folk song, and vocal solo, U14).

Congratulations to all the students involved in an excellent showcase of the talent and commitment of Taunton School musicians.