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Strathfest 2019 finished in perfect style and 100 per cent “on message” at its showcase evening at Aviemore Primary School.

After a spectacular evening of music from all ages on the youth scale, MC Christopher Josey summed it all up with a few simple words:“It’s not about discovering the new Pavarotti, or the new Charlie McKerron. Strathfest is all about making our young people whole people, and we do that by letting them enjoy their music. A life without music is simply not worth living.”

The packed hall applauded that sentiment as loudly as it had applauded any of the splendid acts which filled the building with beautiful music for two whole hours.

“It’s been a wonderful festival,” agreed Mary-Ann Connolly, who as chairwoman of the new committee must have wondered what on earth she and they had let themselves in for, maintaining a celebration of Strathspey and Badenoch’s musical youth well into its seventh decade.

“I needn’t have worried,” she said as the crowd finally dispersed after enjoying no fewer than 29 acts, encompassing individual flair from clarsach and trombone to viola and piano, and inch-perfect ensemble

work from choirs and ceilidh players to a sturdy young waulking group.

Jazz, traditional folk, classical and Gaelic pieces were all delivered with verve and virtuosity.

“I have a wonderful team on the committee and as you can see we have had plenty of volunteers along the way. The main thing is, though, that throughout this year’s season the children have clearly enjoyed themselves. It’s all been well worth it.”

Overall results:–

Traditional Fiddle Beginners Primary

1 Rohaise Harrison; 2= Gracie-May Short, Innes Macdonald; 3= Iona Pizarro, Ailsa Urquhart.

Traditional Fiddle Intermediate Primary

1 (Smillie Trophy) Surya Harrison; 2= Isla McLeod, Angus Robinson; 3 Annabelle Schultz.

Traditional Fiddle Slow Air Primary

1 Angus Robinson; 2= Anna Hutt, Zoe Atkinson.

Traditional Fiddle Slow Air Secondary

1 Zoe Allen; 2 Xander Johnston; 3= Harriet McAuly-Brand, Maili McLeod.

Traditional Fiddle March, Strathspey & Reel Secondary

1 (White Rose Bowl) Cailean McKerron; 2= Zoe Allen, Xander Johnston, Iona Craig.

Traditional Instrument Solo Primary

1= Eeanor Godlington, Ela Paul; 2= Elijah Versteeg, Mackie Starritt Robinson, Willow Godlington.

Traditional Instrument Solo Secondary

1 Kyle Powell; 2 (Burr Clarsach Trophy) Emily Garrow; 3 Cailean McKerron.

Traditional Vocal Solo – Primary

1 Zoe Atkinson.

Traditional Vocal Solo – Secondary

1 Cailean McKerron.

Traditional Group Music

1 (Alvie Quaich)

Feis Spe CB 1; 2 Feis Spe CB 2,

Solo Gaelic Verse Speaking Primary 1&2

1 Fiona Gill; 2 Lucy Stewart; 3 Hannah Lavin.

Solo Gaelic Verse Speaking Primary P3&4

1 Grace Mackintosh; 2 Seoras McKerron; 3 Florence Benbow.

Traditional Gaelic Vocal Solo Primary 3 & 4

1 Florence Benbow; 2 Isla Powell; 3 Seoras McKerron.

Traditional Gaelic Vocal Solo Primary 5-7

1 Euan Easto; 2 Rosie Ettle; 3 Annaleigh Brannan.

Gaelic Action Song (Nursery)

1 Newtonmore Gaelic Nursery.

Gaelic Action Song (Primary)

1 Newtonmore P1-3G.

Waulking Group (Primary)

1 Newtonmore P4-7G.

Pre Grade 1 Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

1 Anna Stirling; 2= Sofia Botos, Elijah Versteeg.

Grade 1 & 2 Violin, Viola, Cello & Double Bass

1 (Gynack Shield) Maili McLeod; 2 Annabelle Schultz; 3= Angus Robinson, Katie Slimon.

Grade 3 & 4 Violin, Viola, Cello & Double Bass

1 Harriet McAuly-Brand; 2= Cara Holman, Ffion Townsend.

Brass

Beginners

1= Amelia Sancho Mentel, Jenna McRae.

Group Music Making – Primary

1 (William Ainslie Memorial Trophy) Grantown Primary Sound Start Plus.

Group Music Making – Secondary

1 Grantown Brass Quartet.

Action Song – Primary

1 Aviemore N3/4.

Dramatised Song – Primary

1 (Frances Stoddart Quaich) Grantown P3.

Choir – Primary 1 & 2

1 Primary 2; 2 P1/2.

Choir – Primary 5-7

1 Grantown P5 Pupils.

Choir – Primary Open

1 (Molyneux Shield)

Primary Open

Choral Verse P1 & 2

1 Grantown P1.

Choral Verse 1 or 2 Teacher School

1 (Hay Trophy) Gergask Primary.

Solo Verse Speaking – P3 & 4

1 Sienna Wilson; 2 Rachel Slimon.

Solo Verse Speaking – P5-7

1 Finn Benbow; 2 Millie Lavin; 3 Felicity Carstairs.

Vocal Solo Girls 10 and Under

1 Danika Armitt; 2 Sally Irvine; 3 Erin-Louise MacDonald.

Vocal Solo Girls 11 & 12

1 Zoe Atkinson; 2= Morag Strang, Rebecca Dargie.

Vocal Solo – Boys 11 & 12

1 Eoin Jones; 2 Joshua Harman-Huxtable.

Vocal Solo Secondary Girls 13-16

1 Gemma Ballam; 2 Divîa Sobczak.

Piano

Pre Grade 1

1 Euan Easto; 2 Fiona McGill; 3= Charlie Trench, Mackie Starritt Robinson.

Grade 1 & 2

1 (Festival Cup) Elijah Versteeg; 2= Rebekah Bissett, Eddie Smith; 3= Anna Stirling, Ella Anjali Paul.

Grade 3 & 4

1 Cailean McKerron; 2= Archie Laing, Emily Garrow, Lucy Edmondson; 3= Harriet McAuly-Brand, Seamus Swan.

Grade 5 & 6

1 (Jean Murphy Trophy) Amber Beange; 2 Iain Lynch; 3 Lauren Philip.

Grade 7 & 8

1 Finlay Bremner.

Open Primary

1 Nethy Girls.

Open Secondary

1 Monadh Ruadh.

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