TALENTED performers delighted audiences at the finale of the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival at Huddersfield Town Hall.

On Saturday, winners of various classes in the nine-day festival performed at a gala concert to mark the end of the 115th festival.

The gala night was kicked off by Sellers International Youth Band, followed by songs from Honley singer Kirsty Smith. Kirsty, 16, a student at Greenhead College, was the winner of the Huddersfield Choral Society Rosebowl and the Louise Hinchliffe Trophy for most promising young singer.

Rastrick High School Senior Choir then took the stage, followed by 16-year-old Halifax cello player Will Grace, who won the string solo open class and the Solo Instrumentalists' Challenge.

Young Marsh singer Thomas Lambert brought comedy to the evening, performing The Bear Necessities.

Percussionist Jonathan Beevers, 12, of Shelley, played pieces by Handel and Dvorak on the xylophone, followed by Huddersfield University student Benjamin Burgin, 18, giving a recital from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Glossop boy Christian Eccles-Cannon then gave a dazzling piano performance. He was winner of the 12 to 14 years piano recital class.

Bradford mezzo-soprano Christine Quirk, who won the Samuel Firth Silver Rosebowl and the vocal recital class, also performed.

Then Huddersfield Choral Society Youth Choir, Oldham Youth Chorale, Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, St Barnabas's Church's choir from Crosland Moor, Oldham Youth Choir and the Holme Valley Singers competed in the choir prize- winners' challenge.

The Holme Valley Singers took first place and received the Jessie Jameson Centenary Baton and £350.

In second place, winning £200, was Colne Valley Male Voice Choir and third was Oldham Youth Chorale, who won £100.

Colne Valley Male Voice Choir also won the Huddersfield Centenary Trophy for the most outstanding choir performance.

The J W Pearce Trophy was presented to Kirklees Young Musician of the Year - soprano Elizabeth Atkinson - by Kirklees Mayor Clr Barbara Allonby.

Huddersfield University student Elizabeth, from Dalton, received £700 to spend on furthering her musical education. She performed two songs at the gala concert.

Saturday

Gospel/church choir/vocal group, nine to 24 voices:

1 St Barnabas's Church Choir, Crosland Moor.

Mixed voice choir, 25 voices and over:

1 Oldham Youth Choir, 2 Holme Valley Singers.

Small choir, nine to 24 voices:

1 Oldham Youth Choir.

Male voice choir, 25 voices or over:

1 Colne Valley Male Voice Choir.

Kirklees choir: Section A:

1 Colne Valley MVC; Section B: 1 Holme Valley Singers, 2 Huddersfield Choral Society Youth Choir.

Choir programme:

1 Oldham Youth Choir, 2 Holme Valley Singers, 3 Colne Valley MVC.

Yorkshire Building Society Speech Challenge Trophy for the most promising performer in the under-16 speech classes:

James Lawson, Lindley.