A FESTIVAL organiser has welcomed “one of the best first weekends ever”.
The 120th annual Mrs Sunderland Music Festival kicked off on Friday and runs through to next Saturday.
The festival, which is being held at the Huddersfield Town Hall and St Paul’s Hall, includes singing, piano, band and poetry competitions.
Chairman Michael Hampshire is pleased with the high quality of entries.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “It’s been brilliant, one of the best first weekends we’ve ever had. It’s been outstanding.”
Among the weekend’s winners was Rachel Crisp, of Clifton, near Brighouse. The 18-year-old won the Junior English Song category, the Huddersfield Choral Society Rose Bowl for Young Singers and the Junior Vocal Recital. Mr Hampshire said: “She’s an outstanding talent.”
He also picked out James Field of Brighouse who won the Junior Singers’ Challenge for his rendition of the folk song Over the Mountains.
Mr Hampshire said: “He was very, very good. It was great to hear him singing so well.”
On Saturday evening Sheffield man Sam Hiller won the coveted Samuel Firth Silver Rose Bowl for his performance of Handel’s Si Tra i Ceppi.
Other winners at the weekend included Sophie Harris from Brighouse who came out on top in the Girls Solo Years 5 and 6 category and Molly Bridge from Scholes who won the Years 7 and 8 section. Anise Carswell, of Holmes Chapel, took the Years 9 and 10 prize.
The festival continues today with piano and poetry recitals.
