Winterfold Singers’ Success at Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance

Congratulations to the talented singers from Winterfold who have achieved great success at the 57^th Annual Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance held at Dudley College of Technology.

On Saturday 4^th March, The Winterfold Girls’ Harmony Choir won the prestigious Coseley Male Voice Roseville Trophy. The girls sang two contrasting songs – ‘Crazy’ by Nelson, made famous by Patsy Kline and ‘Let It Be’ by Lennon and McCartney.  The comments from the adjudicator were excellent; the choir sang with confidence and with clear harmonies, especially in girls so young.  The judges for the classes were:  Gabrielle Burgin Lister GRSM ARMCM PGCA and Anne Marshall MA, PGCE, LRAM.

Well done to Areesha Jafferi, Olivia Garrett, Zara Bedford, Catherine Chung, Mia King, Eleanor Dunn, Isabelle Bolton, Evie Richards, Poppy Pinfield and Philippa Fleming.

On Saturday 11^th March, Winterfold House Music continued its success in a host of classes.  In the Open Lieder Class, Eleanor Dunn won the ‘George Saunders Lieder Cup’ with her performance of Maria Wiegenlied by Reger.  Eleanor also won the ‘Frank Richards Junior Cup’ in the Songs from Shows/Musicals 12 Years Class, singing ‘Without You’ from the musical ‘My Fair Lady’.

Olivia Garrett won third prize in the ‘Songs from the Shows/Musicals class 11 Years’ singing the classic song ‘Memory’ from ‘Cats’.

In the ‘Songs from the shows/musicals 9-10 years’ Winterfold Girls came 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th.  Catherine Chung won The Berridge Cup singing ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ from the musical ‘Guys and Dolls’, Olivia Leung was 2^nd Bessy Hingley 3^rd and Isla Chattin 4^th.

In ‘Vocal Solo 11 Years’, Zara Bedford came 3^rd singing ‘The Smugglers Song’ by ‘Le Fleming’.  In Vocal Solo 9-10 Years, Catherine Chung came 2^nd and Olivia Leung came 3^rd and in ‘Vocal Solo 8 and Under’, Olivia Odell won the ‘Sarah Morrison Trophy’ singing Flanders and Swans ‘The Hippopotamus Song’.

The silverware kept coming and on Sunday 12^th March, Eleanor Dunn and Philippa Fleming won the ‘Marjorie Davies Memorial Trophy in the Vocal Duet 17 Years and Under class, singing ‘What is this feeling’ from the musical ‘Wicked’.

Winterfold House School was up against schools from Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Stone and Kingswinford.

Mrs Jane Richardson, singing teacher at Winterfold said “I am extremely proud of how all of the girls have performed.  They have surpassed all expectations, performing their songs with confident vocal technique and stage presence at levels far exceeding their age abilities. For girls so young to sing so confidently, with good, clear, vocal tone and excellent breath control is remarkable.