DEDICATED performers of all ages have been pouring out of the town hall this week clutching trophies and with big smiles on their faces.

They have been competing in the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival which is now in its 120th year and will run until this Saturday, February 28.

Some performers have overcome massive hurdles to clinch top prizes while others say it’s just down to lots of practice.

And it isn’t just the youngsters getting involved in this prestigious Huddersfield festival.

Retired Rita Chambers, from Almondbury was delighted to win the bible reading class yesterday.

At the same time Catherine Redfern and Rebecca Robinson from Meltham were wowing adjudicator Timothy Barratt in the main hall with their piano duet.

The girls sat alongside each other at the black Steinway grand piano and played together to win the 18-years and under class.

Self-taught pianist Stephen Gott overcame Dyspraxia to come first place in his piano solo competition.

The 17-year-old performed in the class for students who are grade 8 and above, after just two-and-a-half years of learning..

Dyspraxia hinders Stephen’s learning and ability to coordinate movement and he sometimes finds it hard to tie his shoelaces.

But he beat off competition from 18 other performers in a fantastic rendition of Liszt’s Sposalizio.

He said afterwards: “I was so shocked to win. I love being able to play in front of an audience and I love the feeling of adrenaline pumping around my body.”

Mum Connie, 49, from Highroad Well in Halifax, said she was very proud of her son and couldn’t believe he had won in only his second competition.

The 49-year-old said: “He practices at least five hours a day, he’s really taken to it.

“Sometimes we’ll even hear him playing the piano at two in the morning.

“He’s done so well despite his disability and he’s very dedicated.”

RESULTS from the piano and drama and speech classes:

Verse Speaking School Years 10 and under: 1 Stephanie Merritt, AD Astra Academy, 2 Fiona Pilling, Halifax, 3 Phillippa Charnley, Birchencliffe and Jessica Ramsay, Stage 84.

Verse Speaking Poets’ Laureate: 1 Rak Verma, Lindley.

Shakespeare Open class: 1 Rak Verma, Lindley.

Poem School Year 7 and under: 1 Bethany Hodgkinson, OHGS, 2 Elizabeth Redhill, 3 Isobel Crossley, HD&SS.

Poem School Years 8 - 13: 1 Ben Buckley, WIS, 2 Elaina Cranston, WIS, 3 Alaina Heath, HD&SS.

Poem – Open: 1 Kathleen Croft, WIS, 2 Averil Farrar, Denby Dale, 3 Kate Myall, Huddersfield.

Dialect Poem - Open: 1 Christine Goodwin, Thurlstone, 2 Gerald Stead, Lindley, 3 Mabel Gordon, Birstall and Howard Peach, Cottingham.

Piano Solo – Open: 1 Stephen Gott, Halifax, 2 Hayley-Danielle Pearson, Denby Dale and Lucine Faraj, Lockwood, 3 Oliver Seton, Halifax and Elizabeth Holmes, Worthing.

Piano Solo, Sonatina, School Year 7 and under: 1 Lydia Wyatt, Rastrick, 2 Sam Williams, Barnsley, 3 Lily Cameron, Kirkheaton.

Piano Solo, 20th Century, Open: 1 Christopher Stafford, Huddersfield, 2 Peter Wild, Lancs, 3 Lucine Faraj, Lockwood.

Piano Duet School Year 6 and under: 1 Isabelle and Toby Goodall-Munroe, Scholes, 2 Suriya Shah and Eleanor Martin, 3 Elizabeth Laing and Olivia Sarenki, Bradly and Alice Baxter and Abigail Young.

Piano Duet, School Year 9 and under: 1 Oliver McHugh and Lauren Rosborough, Ripponden, 2 Rosa McKie and Matthew Rhodes, Gomersal.

Piano Duet, 18 Years and under: 1 Catherine Redfern and Rebecca Robinson, Meltham, 2 Katie Sykes and Bridget McHugh, West Kirkby.

See tomorrow’s Examiner for more classes: