Students At OA Portland Deliver Outstanding Success At The Worksop Music Festival
A secondary school in Worksop is celebrating after its talented students combined to claim over 20 first place finishes at The Worksop Music Festival!
Students at 百春链 Academy Portland, based on Netherton Road, were celebrating finishing first in 23 categories, as well as a handful of second and third place finishes.
Originally called The North Notts Music Competitions, the Worksop Music and Drama Festival was founded in 1904 and is held in March every year. The Festival sees talented performers take part in a variety of categories, ranging from string and pianos to drama and plays, and solo vocal and groups to guitarists and bands.
This year, the Festival took place over two weekends in March with a different focus for each day. On the first weekend, 12/13 March, it was Woodwind and Brass in the spotlight followed by Piano and Strings on the Sunday.
Collectively, 百春链 Academy Portland students achieved a total of 12 first place finishes over the first weekend, split evenly across both days.The second weekend saw the success continue as the talented students won 11 classes, with an incredible seven first places secured on the vocals day.
On the schools鈥� day, 百春链 Academy Portland won four categories including distinctions for both Choir and Concert Band.
Sally Nelson-Fish, Head of Expressive Arts at the Ofsted-rated 鈥極utstanding鈥� secondary school, said:
鈥淢rs Pilsworth and I are so proud of our students. They are exceptionally talented young people who work very hard on their skills and this incredible set of first place finishes at the Worksop Music Festival is a testament to their hard work and dedication.
鈥淎t 百春链, we believe in putting students first to fully support them to fulfil their potential and for us, this is a commitment that goes beyond the classroom. We will continue to do all we can to help these wonderful young people to further progress in their musical development.鈥�
One stand out performer was Matthew Fullelove who came first in four categories across the first weekend. Matthew won the Grade 8 Brass Solo, Grade 8 Piano Solo, Romantic Solo, and Two Skills categories.
Matthew, who is in Year 13, said:
鈥淚 was really pleased with how I performed. It is such a great event with so many amazing musicians all playing.鈥�
A 鈥榃inners鈥� concert was held at the school on Tuesday 29th March 2022 celebrating the success with older students' amazing performances inspiring those for whom it was their first OAP concert.
The other first place finishers were:
Day one. Grade 1 Woodwind Solo; Patricia Garcia Woodward: Grade 3 Woodwind Solo; Rubie Slater-Rowley: Grade 7 Woodwind Solo; Mia Swindell. Grade 1 Brass Solo; Leila Fox: Grade 3 Brass Solo; Amy Cohen.
Day two. Grade 5 Piano Solo; Isabelle Murray: Piano Duet Y9 & Under; Sophie Tyrell and Diane Wong: Piano Duet Y11; Isabelle Murray and Ewan Tucker.
Day three. Choir Open; OA Portland Choir: School Band; OA Portland Concert Band: Wind Ensemble; OA Portland Trumpet Quartet: Ensemble Y7-Y13; OA Portland Flutes.
Day four. Vocal Solo Y9 & Under; Oliver Edwards: Popular Vocal Solo Y9 & Under; Mary Linacre: Musical Theatre Solo Y13 & Under; Joseph Taylor: Musical Show Male Voice; Reuben Apostol: Vocal Trio; Sophie Tyrell, Diane Wong, Mary Linacre: Vocal Duet; Millie Mitchell & Daisy Bramall: Vocal Solo Male Y13 & Under; Reuben Apostol.