Northampton Festival of Performing Arts hits all the right notes

Sessions included performers from early learners to extremely accomplished and took place at a range of venues including Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT), St Gregory’s RC Primary School and Northampton School for Girls.

Among those taking part were three school brass bands, the Liberty Drum Corp and the Nene Valley Community Band.

There was exciting work from the youngsters of Sponne School’s String Ensemble and some delightful harp playing from Holly-Alice Morton.

Adjudicator, Andrea Calladine, said: “Listening to the music-making in Northampton was an absolute delight and privilege.”

The festival also included speech and drama, with the youngest entrants being from Years 1 and 2, with more than 80 children taking part from schools including Standens Barn, Woodland View and Duston Eldean Primary and St Gregory’s RC.

The Speech and Drama Festival Celebration Concert featured a variety of disciplines, including verse, prose and acting.

Year 2 entrant Gracie started the verse with her amusing poem Cherry Croak and was followed in age order by Isabella, Stella, Nikki, Lily, Beatriz, Chloe, Anisha and Siena.

Siena performed the poem Brendon Gallacher for which she was awarded the Mary Goodman Shield.

Tom performed a prose extract from Roald Dahl and there were solo scenes from Lucy and Kayla as well as duologues from Lewis and Billy, Molly and Summer and Sophie and Ben.

The concert finished with the presentation of awards.

These were:

June Nurser Plate for Most Promising Junior Actor/Actress Year 6 and under

Anita Wright Plate for Most Promising Senior Actor/Actress Year 7 and over

Roy Walker Trophy for Most Promising Junior Competitor Year 6 and under

Festival Plate for Most Promising Senior Competitor Year 7 and over

Mary Goodman Shield for Most Memorable Poetry Performance

Sue Pearson Memorial Adjudicator’s Award for Merit.

The School Choirs session at Christchurch was staged in front of a church packed with children, teachers and parents which gave a great atmosphere.

Clipston Primary accompanied themselves, while Ecton Brook Primary and Malcolm Arnold Academy each won a shield.

Edited from details kindly provided by Anna Langton