Music Festival 2018
What a feast of entertainment was enjoyed at the 2018 Music Festival held in St Mark’s Parish Church, Armagh on Saturday 10th March! Arts Sub-Committee Chairman Carole Baird welcomed everyone and choirs and soloists from around the province treated the audience to a day of wonderful singing.
The day started with a selection of songs from Calamity Jane, went on through sacred music, swing tunes, a variety of solos, and ended with melodies from musicals and folk songs. There were many outstanding moments, but the highlight of the day has to be the ladies of Crumlin WI with their rousing rendition of ‘Master of the House’ from Les Misérables – an extremely entertaining performance which won the group the Arts Sub-Committee Cup and an ovation from the audience.
The adjudicator, Denis Totton, B.Ed., LRSM, LTCL, ARIAM, ALCM, was full of praise for all the performances throughout the day and said that he would encourage fellow adjudicators to be involved in such an enjoyable experience.
Federation Chairman Elizabeth Warden presented the awards to the worthy winners and a comprehensive Vote of Thanks was delivered by Arts Sub-Committee member Eileen Mol. Arts Sub-Committee Chairman Carole Baird also thanked her Committee ladies for all their hard work and wished everyone a safe journey home. The day was brought to a close in traditional WI style with the singing of A Countrywoman’s Song.
The talented prize winners were as follows:
Burgess Trophy (Fireside Chorus Own Choice) – Armoy WI
Alice Chestnutt Shield (Choral Folk Own Choice) – Crumlin WI
Ballyrogan Salver (Choral Sacred) – Ballyblack WI
Carrickfergus Cup (Choral 12+ Voices) – Quoile Area
Priory Cup (Choral 2-12 Voices) – Crumlin WI
Doreen Young Cup (Soprano Solo Untrained Voice) – Nuala Doran, Armoy WI
Havelock Nelson Medal (Alto Solo Untrained voice) – Valerie Huey, Armoy WI
Ann Getgood Salver (Soprano Solo Trained Voice) – Margaret Taylor, Downpatrick WI
Elizabeth Hasley Cup (Alto Solo Trained Voice) – Kathleen Gill, Quoile Area
Arts Sub-Committee Cup (Song from a Show) – Crumlin WI
Sam Henry Cup (Folk Song Own Choice) – Nuala Doran, Armoy WI
Deborah Horan Trophy (Best Overall in Festival) – Quoile Area
Pictured at the Musical Festival 2018:
(Front row L-R): Valerie Huey of Armoy WI, Margaret Taylor of Downpatrick WI, Kathleen Gill of Quoile Area, Adjudicator Denis Totton, Federation Chairman Elizabeth Warden, Arts Sub-Committee Chairman Carole Baird and Federation Vice-Chairman Beth Irwin.
(Back row L-R): Iris Graham of Crumlin WI, Helen Lewis of Crumlin WI, Cherith Wilson of Crumlin WI, Isabel Keenan of Quoile Area, Nuala Doran of Armoy WI, Margaret Dillon of Armoy WI and Christine Gordon of Ballyblack WI.
Vanessa Lorimer, Hazel Campbell, Joan Ward and Ann Hyde of Crumlin WI giving in their all during their lively performance of ‘Master of the House’ from Les Misérables. These talented Crumlin ladies scored a hat-trick at the Music Festival, winning three prestigious trophies.
