Music Festival 2014
The hills around Ballymoney were alive with the sound of music as the Arts Music Festival was held in Roseyards Presbyterian Church Hall on Saturday 29th March 2014. Arts Sub-Committee Chairman Ethel Simpson welcomed everyone, including Federation Chairman Margaret Collinson, Federation Vice-Chairman Irene Craig, Federation Treasurer Anne Kirkwood, and past and present Executive members. A warm welcome was also extended to the Adjudicator Rev Noel Williamson BA.BD.M TH.LTCL. EIght choirs took part in the morning session singing twenty-nine pieces in total. A busy morning! Armoy WI provided the catering with tea/coffee, scones and tray bakes in the morning and they later served a lovely lunch very quickly and efficiently to one-hundred-and-ninety-six members, supporters and friends. After lunch, it was the soloists’ turn to perform. Rev Noel Williamson thanked the Arts Sub-Committee for their invitation to adjudicate. He said he had enjoyed the day listening to the wonderful singing of the choirs and soloists. He congratulated all and thanked them for all their hard work in preparation for the Music Festival. Rev Williamson awarded first and second places in all classes and presented certificates to all of the winners. Chairman Margaret Collinson presented the trophies and thanked the Arts Sub-Committee for a wonderful day. Roberta Mathers proposed the Vote of Thanks, and included the husbands of the Armoy WI ladies who were there in the morning to direct the coach drivers to another car park and to keep the road free from traffic congestion. A very enjoyable day was concluded with the singing of A Countrywoman’s Song
Award winners at the Music Festival were as follows:
>Burgess Trophy (Fireside Chorus): Armoy WI
>Alice Chestnutt Shield (Choral Folk): Quoile Area
>Ballyrogan Salver (Choral Sacred): Quoile Area
>Carrickfergus Cup (Ensemble 12 voices and over): Joint 1st Quoile Area & Gleno WI
>Priory Cup (Ensemble 5-12 voices): Gleno WI
>Doreen Young Cup (Untrained Soprano Soloist): Nuala Doran, Armoy WI
>Havelock Nelson Medal (Contralto Solo Untrained): Valerie Huey, Armoy WI
>Ann Getgood Salver (Soprano Solo Trained): Muriel Smyth, Portaferry WI
>Elizabeth Hazley Cup (Contralto Trained): Margaret Taylor, Downpatrick WI
>Sam Henry Cup (Solo Folk): Jayne Martin, Ballyblack WI
>Arts Sub-Committee Cup (Song from a Musical): Jayne Martin, Ballyblack WI
>Deborah Horan Trophy (Best Overall): Armoy WI
