The 75th annual Highbridge Festival Of The Arts has seen hundreds of performances in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge over the two weeks.
Here are the final results from the long-running festival which shines a spotlight on the best up-and-coming performers from across in the region.
The Festival will return in March 2024 for its 76th year. Syllabuses for all three sections: Speech & Drama, Dance & Music should be available in October 2023 here.
Saturday 18th March
The final day of the Festival welcomed instrumentalists and vocalists to Highbridge Community Hall. The instrumental entrants, many of whom have been competing at the Festival since childhood, were praised by the adjudicator for continuing on their musical journey and applauded by the audience for their performances as soloists and in duets.
Familiar songs from shows and films were shared during the afternoon by soloists and two choirs, together with own composition and songs of worship. Adjudicator, Donal McCrisken, concluded the Festival saying, “It’s been such a lovely afternoon. This is a special festival, very humanely run, and showing great nurturing of young talent.” He went on to thank the organisers and the team of volunteers for their hard work in making the Music Section so successful.
Music results for Saturday March 18th:
Class X64D Accompanied Solos – Woodwind
1st Sophie Beard
Class X69C Unaccompanied Solos – Woodwind
1st Lillie Hannett
Class X64C Accompanied Solos – Woodwind
1st Lillie Hannett
2nd Gracie Driscoll
Class X60C Recorder Solos – One or Two Pieces
1st Gracie Driscoll
Class X73 Instrumental Solo – Any Instrument Grades 2 – 3
1st Amber Perrott
2nd Olivia Rosser
Class X77B Instrumental Duet – Any Combination
1st Olivia Rosser & Amber Perrott
Class X69D Unaccompanied Solos – Woodwind
1st Sophie Beard
2nd Holly Thomas
Class X74W Woodwind Grades 4 – 5
1st Lillie Hannett
Class X75 Instrumental Solo – Any Instrument Grades 6 – 7
1st Holly Thomas
2nd Sophie Beard
Class X77D Instrumental Duet – Any Combination
1st Gracie Driscoll & Holly Thomas
2nd Sophie Beard & Lillie Hannett
Class V16E Vocal Solo – Song of Own Choice including Pop/Film/Show
1st Vinnie Triggol
2nd Christine Hall
Class V5E Vocal Solo – Pop Song From Any Decade
1st Vinnie Triggol
2nd Christine Hall
Class V4E Vocal Solo – Song From Any Musical Show/Film
1st Paul Wynn
2nd Christine Hall
Class V15E Vocal Solo – Song of Own Choice excluding Pop/Film/Show
1st Vinnie Triggol
Class V2E Vocal Solo – Adult Song of Worship
1st Christine Hall
Class C29 Choral – Two Contrasting Songs of Worship
1st Vocalise
Class C30 Choral – Two or Three Short Songs with a Common Theme
1st Vocalise
Class C31 Choral – Two Contrasting Songs To Be Sung in Harmony
1st Vocalise
2nd Vocalise-Lite
Class C32 Choral – Two Songs in Unison
1st Vocalise
2nd Vocalise-Lite
Class C34 Choral – 15 Minute Show Medley
1st Vocalise
Friday 17th March
Friday’s Music Section at Highbridge Community Hall was quieter but no less enjoyable with the audience being treated to instrumental and vocal performances from children and adults. Vocalists sang in a range of styles from Pop and Musical Theatre to an Art Song sung in Italian. A wide variety of instruments were played during the day giving the audience the chance to hear playing they might not have experienced before. As Adjudicator, Donal McCrisken said, “Where else but Highbridge Festival would you hear the bagpipes, harp, drums and concertina played in the same venue alongside piano, flute and violin?” The evening was rounded off by an ensemble of clarinet players whose final piece, the theme from The Addams Family, had the audience jiggling in their seats.
Music Results for Friday March 17th:
Class X39B Instrumental – Look What I Can Do
1st Hannah Rose
2nd Sophie Downing
3rd Lottie Chadd
Class X39A Instrumental – Look What I Can Do
1st Lois Downing
2nd Evelyn McGovern
3rd Angus Margary
Class X88B Instrumental – Beginners’ Class
1st Zoe Coburn
2nd= Alona Vargheese
2nd= Lottie Chadd
3rd Darcy Chilcott
Class X88A Instrumental – Beginners’ Class
1st Emily Stanley
2nd= Ben Chadd
2nd= Angus Margary
3rd= Evelyn McGovern
3rd= Shreya Varinder
Class V4B Vocal Solo –
Song from any Musical Show/Film
1st Scarlett Newitt
2nd= Florence Curtis
2nd= Abi Latimer
3rd Kaitlyn Smith
Class V4A Vocal Solo – Song from any Musical Show/Film
1st Katie Arkless
Class V7B Vocal Solo – Baroque/Classical/Romantic
1st Florence Curtis
Class V15A Vocal Solo – Song of Own Choice excluding Pop/Film/Show
1st Katie Arkless
Class V15B Vocal Song – Song of own Choice excluding Pop/Film/Show
1st Abi Latimer
Class V16B Vocal Solo – Song of Own Choice including Pop/Film/Show
1st Scarlett Newitt
2nd Lily Baker
Class V10B Vocal Solo – Art Song in Original Language
1st Florence Curtis
Class V4C Vocal Solo – Song from any Musical Show/Film
1st Morwenna Fuller
2nd= Sophie Pepper
2nd= Jaimie Holland
Class V16C Vocal Solo – Song of Own Choice including Pop/Film/Show
1st Jaimie Holland
2nd Morwenna Fuller
Class V24C Vocal Duet – Adult & Child Own Choice
1st Jaimie Holland & Claire Vincent
Class X66B Accompanied Solos – Percussion
1st Tristan Clarke
Class 67B Accompanied Solos – Any Other Instrument
1st Tay Meager
2nd Kobie Sherren
Class 67A Accompanied Solos – Any Other Instrument
1st Cai Meager
Class X74 Instrumental Solo – Any Instrument Grade 4-5
1st Tristan Clarke
Class X68B Unaccompanied Solos – Strings
1st Forest White
Class X39C Instrumental – Look What I Can Do
1st Amelia Rose
2nd= Bethan, Amelia & Hannah Rose
2nd= Amelia Rose
Class X68C Unaccompanied Solos – Strings
1st Matilda White
Class X71E Unaccompanied Solos – Any Other Instrument
1st Linda Bond
2nd Philip Marshall
Class X76 Instrumental Solo – Any Instrument Grade 8 and above
1st Matilda White
Class G83 Instrumental Ensemble 7 – 12 Instruments
1st Clarinet Candies
Thursday 16th March
Highbridge Community Hall was packed to the rafters by an enthusiastic and supportive audience on the morning of Thursday March 16, as choirs from five primary schools took to the stage. The adjudicator, Donal McCrisken, was delighted with the children’s glorious singing and talked to the audience about the benefits of choral singing and said he had enjoyed the enthusiasm of their performances. A smaller, but no less appreciative audience enjoyed listening to recorder players from Bridgwater College Academy. The adjudicator extolled the virtues of learning to play the recorder, saying how much he had enjoyed the children’s playing and that he wished he heard more recorder playing at festivals, as it was a brilliant instrument with which to begin a musical journey.
Mayor, Cllr Lesley Millard, joined the audience for the evening session, saying she had had a lovely evening. The first class saw eleven young people compete for The Dorothy Reaney Trophy, which had been presented to the Festival in memory of Dot Reaney a long time supporter of the Festival. The Coastline Singer’s entry had the audience chuckling and resonated with the adjudicator as he said that he admired their bravery in presenting a parody of a community choir singing badly but was then delighted when the choir sang a beautiful interpretation of The Place Where Lost Things Go. The evening was rounded off by King Alfred Concert Band who thoroughly entertained the audience with a variety of pieces. Adjudicator, Donal McCrisken, said that they had provided an excellent end to the evening and praised the Band’s Musical Director, Sheila Philp, for keeping the Band in order.
Music results: 16 March
Class C296 Choral – Two Contrasting Songs of Worship
1st Brent Knoll School
2nd Churchfield Harmony
Class C304 Choral – Two or Three Short Songs With a Common Theme
1st East Brent C of E Academy
Class C322 Choral – Two Songs in Unison
1st Bridgwater Class, Churchfield School
Class G82B Instrumental Ensemble 3 – 6 Instruments
1st Worle Village Guitar Group
Class C306 Choral – Two or Three Short Songs
With a Common Theme
1st Brent Knoll School
Class C326 Choral – Two Songs in Unison
1st Worle Village Primary School
2nd= Brent Knoll School
2nd= St Andrew’s Choir
3rd Churchfield Harmony
Class X62A Recorder Groups – One or Two Pieces
1st Bridgwater College Academy Year 4 Recorder Group
Class X88G Instrumental Beginners’ Class
1st Bridgwater College Academy Year 3 Recorder Group
Class X60A Recorder Solos – One or Two Pieces
1st Harvey Lacey
2nd Alice Walford
Class X61A Recorder Duets – One or Two Pieces
1st Lilla Dome & Sofia Dankova
2nd= Betsy Young & Isla Witchell
2nd= Erin McCallum & Cynthia Churchill
Class DRT The Dorothy Reaney Award
1st Sophie Beard
2nd Morwenna Fuller
3rd Jack Richardson
Class G37 Multi-Discipline Performance
1st Coastline Singers
Class G85 Instrumental Ensemble 35+ instruments
1st King Alfred Concert Band
Wednesday 15th March
The first day of the Music Section of this year’s 75th Festival was a celebration of piano playing with entrants from 7 to over 70 playing their favourite pieces. The pianists delighted the audience throughout the day with their accomplished solo and duet performances. Many entrants entered lots of classes and were rewarded with medals for pieces played in a wide variety of styles. The adjudicator, Donal McCrisken, provided positive feedback for all entrants as well as offering advice on how to develop and enhance their playing.
Music results Wednesday 15 March
Class P53B Piano Duet – Pupil & Teacher Duet of Own Choice
1st Lee Smith
2nd= Hannah Rose
2nd= Sophie Downing
3rd Hermione Spratt
Class 53A Piano Duet – Pupil & Teacher
Duet of Own Choice
1st Ella Kaya
2nd= Lois Downing
2nd= Nora Allan
Class P40 Piano Solo Up To Grade 1
1st Sofia Marchant
2nd= Milana Ballantine
2nd= Ella Kaya
3rd= Lee Smith
3rd= Nora Allan
Class 51B Piano Solo – One Modern Piece
1st Freya Slade
2nd Zoe Margary
3rd Lee Smith
Class 51A Piano Solo – One Modern Piece
1st Nora Allan
2nd= Elijah Warwick
2nd= Polly Margary
Class P48B Piano Solo – One Piece of Own Choice
1st Lee Smith
2nd Milana Ballantine
3rd Zoe Margary
Class 48A Piano Solo – One Piece of own Choice
1st Breanna Wong
2nd= Lois Downing
2nd= Nora Allan
3rd Elijah Warwick
Class P50B Piano Solo – One Piece in Baroque/Classical/Romantic Style
1st Jacob Powell
2nd Lee Smith
Class P50A Piano Solo – One Piece in Baroque/ Classical/Romantic Style
1st Breanna Wong
Class P52B Piano Duet – A Duet of Own Choice
1st Sophie & Lois Downing
Class P53C Piano Duet – A Duet of Own Choice
1st Hannah & Amelia Rose
Class X88C Instrumental Beginners’ Class
1st Amelia Rose
Class P51C Piano Solo – One Modern Piece
1st Edwina Wong
Class P41 Piano Solo – Grades 2 – 3
1st Seth Barnshaw
Class P42 Piano Solo – Grades 4 – 5
1st Seri-Ann Merrick
2nd Alex Chang
Class P53E Piano Duet – Pupil & Teacher Duet of Own Choice
1st Susie Fowler
2nd Chrissy Coburn
Class P48C Piano Solo – One Piece of Own Choice
1st Edwina Wong
Class P48D Piano Solo – One Piece of Own Choice
1st Jack Richardson
2nd Sophie Beard
Class P50C Piano Solo – One Piece in Baroque/Classical/Romantic Style
1st Edwina Wong
Class 53C Piano Duet – Pupil & Teacher Duet of Own Choice
1st Lillie Hannett
2nd Amelia Rose
Class P53D Piano Duet – Pupil & Teacher Duet of Own Choice
1st Jack Richardson
2nd Seth Barnshaw
3rd Sophie Beard
Class P52E Piano Duet – A Duet of Own Choice
1st Janet Nurse & Julie Ward
2nd Jennifer Golding & Rachel Burland
Class P43 Piano Solo – Grades 6 – 7
1st Jack Richardson
Class P44 Piano Solo – Grade 8 and above
1st Edwina Wong
2nd Jennifer Golding
Class P48E Piano Solo – One Piece of Own Choice
1st Graham Lyne
2nd= Sam McDougal
2nd= Bethen Grace Marshall
3rd Susie Fowler
Class P50E Piano Solo – One Piece in Baroque/ Classical/Romantic Style
1st Nick Jackman
2nd= Graham Lyne
2nd= Ben Webster
3rd Nicholas Smith
Class P51E Piano Solo – One Modern Piece
1st Young Hee Pain
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th March
The Festival welcomed teenage and adult dancers to the Dance Section. There was a good standard of dance throughout the weekend with many classes being won by dancers who achieved distinction marks. A rare Outstanding/Honours mark was awarded to RJT for their Senior Group Dance Birds. Catherine Ingram, the Dance Adjudicator said, “It has been a privilege to adjudicate at Highbridge Festival this week and celebrate the collaboration of young dancers and their inspirational teachers. I am sure many of these young people will go into the performing industry. I would also like to say a big thank you to the amazing team of volunteers who make this event possible. Well done all.”
Sunday 12th March results
Dance 12 March
Class 8 National Solo 15 – 18 years
1st= Hollie Shere
1st= Harriet Vickers-Graham
Class 5 Lyrical Modern Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Lily-Rain Fuller
2nd= Poppy Collis-Smith
2nd= Lacey Pimm
3rd= Bethany Hughes
3rd= Evie King
3rd= Scarlett Puddy
Class 73 Cabaret Trios/Quartets 18 years & under
1st Florrie Radley, Esme Stewart & Harriet Vickers-Graham
2nd Beth Gowell, Harriet Hosken & Ashleigh Hickman
3rd Harriet Hosken, Ruby Smith & Ashleigh Hickman
Class 9 Choreographic Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Beth Goswell
Class 3 Tap Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Esme Stewart
2nd Lacey Pimm
3rd= Harriet Vickers-Graham
3rd= Florrie Radley
Class 74 Classical Trios/Quartets 18 years & under
1st Hollie Shere, Hanah Gamlin & Ella Trott
Class 10 Commercial/Street Solo 15 – 18 years
1st= Harriet Hosken
1st= Scarlett Puddy
2nd Aimee Davies
3rd= Alana James
3rd= Beth Goswell
Class 2 Modern Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Scarlett Puddy
2nd Lily-Rain Fuller
3rd Bethany Hughes
Class 11 Song and Dance Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Lily-Rain Fuller
2nd Alana James
Class 63 Classical Duets 18 years and under
1st Hollie Shere & Hanah Gamlin
2nd Sophia Anderson & Evie King
Class 7 Contemporary Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Lola Beebee
Class 1 Classical Ballet Solo 15 – 18 years
1st Lacey Pimm
2nd Abigail Kelly
3rd Grace Fry
Class 62 Cabaret Duets 18 years & under
1st Grace Fry & Francesa Guidi
2nd Florrie Radley & Esme Stewart
3rd Morwenna & Lily-Rain Fuller
Class 82 Cabaret Senior Groups 21 years & under
1st Birds – RJT (Honours)
2nd Run Boy Run – Spotlight Dance Academy
3rd= Dancin’ Fool – Spotlight Dance Academy
3rd= Move – Fox King Dance Academy
Class 83 Classical Senior Groups 21 years & under
1st Woolf Works – Fox King Dance Academy
2nd Celtic Reel – Signature Dance Studios
3rd Masquerade – Spotlight Dance Academy
Class 72 Any Dance Adult Duets
1st Mary Nutley & Malcolm Cuthbertson
Class 81 Any Dance Adult Trios/Quartets
1st Mary Nutley, Christine Gardner, Emma Kimsey
& Malcolm Cuthbertson
Class 89 Any Dance Group Adult
1st Luck be a Lady – Lisa Jane School of Dance
2nd Handclap Party – SDS
3rd= Feeling Good – Stepping Out
3rd= Paso Doble De Carmen – Fuego Flamenco
Saturday 11th March results
Class 19 National Solo
1st Ella Trott
2nd= Emily Vickers-Graham
2nd= Sophia Winfield
Class 16 Lyrical Modern Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Bonnie Williams
2nd Beatrice Langham
2nd Mariella O’Connell
3rd= Poppy Potter
3rd= Rocha Teale
3rd= Nathalia Evans
3rd= Edwina Wong
3rd= Imogen Higton
3rd= Lorelei Murdoch
Class 20 Choreographic Solo 13 – 1 4 years
1st= Bonnie Williams
1st= Beatrice Langham
2nd= Rocha Teale
2nd= Poppy Potter
3rd= Amber Sharrock
3rd= Enya Farler-Smith
Class 75 Trios/Quartets 14 years & under
1st Emilia Cornes, Emily Vickers-Graham & Lola Smith
Class 18 Contemporary Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Mariella O’Connell
2nd Edwina Wong
3rd= Poppy Potter
3rd= Enya Farler-Smith
Class 15 Character Solo
1st Poppy Potter
2nd Lily Beacon
3rd Jessica Hughes
Class 65 Classical Duets 14 years & under
1st Poppy Potter & Beatrice Langham
2nd Amber Sharrock & Lily Beacon
3rd Grace Tackle & Phoebe Bailey
Class 13 Modern Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Lily Beacon
2nd Bonnie Williams
3rd Edwina Wong
Class 64 Cabaret Duets 14 years & under
1st Poppy Potter & Beatrice Langham
2nd Rocha Teale & Olivia Montgomery
3rd Edwina Wong & Enya Farler-Smith
Class 12 Classical Ballet Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Edwina Wong
2nd Jessica Hughes
3rd= Daisy Armstrong
3rd= Imogen Higton
Class 21 Commercial/Street Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Poppy Potter
2nd= Alisha Hutchison
2nd= Sophia Winfield
Class 14 Tap Solo 13 – 14 years
1st Rocha Teale
2nd= Autumn Williams
2nd= Lily Beacon
3rd Georgia Rainey
Class 22 Song and Dance 13 – 14 years
1st Lily Beacon
2nd Emilia Cornes
3rd Poppy Potter
Class 85 Classical Intermediate Groups 14 years & under
1st= Harry Potter – Spotlight Dance Academy
1st= A Golden Childhood – Fox King Dance Academy
Class 84 Cabaret Intermediate Groups 14 years & under
1st Conductor – RJT
2nd He Lives In You – Stepping Stones School of Dance
3rd= In case you don’t live forever – Spotlight Dance Academy
3rd= Circus – Fox King Dance Academy
Friday 10th March results
The third day of the Dance Section welcomed 11 and 12-year-old dancers to The Princess Theatre. The audience were treated to dancing of a good standard with three dancers achieving distinction marks and a large number of others being commended for their solo, duet and trio performances. The day was rounded off by Henry’s empathetic interpretation of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which he had choreographed himself.
The last two days of the Dance Section will take place over the weekend, before the Festival moves to Highbridge Community Hall for the Music Section, which begins on Wednesday 15 March.
Dance results 10 March
Class 30 National 11 – 12 years
1st Millie Smith
Class 26 Character Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Henry Fryer
2nd= Alice Friend
2nd= Noah Morgan
3rd Hattie Kybert
Class 78 Classical Trios/Quartets 12 years and under
1st Lauren Dodden, Chloe Jenkins & Marcy-May Murdoch
2nd Izzy Watters, Lucy Hasler & Kaitlyn Smith
Class 25 Tap Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Lauren Dodden
2nd Freya Chaffey
3rd Benji Kingston
Class 27 Lyrical Modern Solo 11 – 12 years
1st= Ruby Sproat
1st= Noah Morgan
2nd Alice Friend
3rd= Sophie Gardner
3rd= Hattie Kybert
Class 77 Cabaret Trios/Quartets 12 years and under
1st Rosie Eades, Lauren Dodden & Chloe Jenkins
2nd= Kiera Hallet, Lily Usher & Lilianna Bellavia
2nd= Merryn Kyle, Mia Muscat & Rose Muscat
3rd Sophie-Jo Morton-Watts, Isla Sapsford, Ellie Jones & Molly Eagle
Class 24 Modern Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Alice Friend
2nd= Noah Morgan
2nd= Layla Tovey
3rd= Daisy Sen-Sharma-West
3rd= Liliana Bellavia
3rd= Ruby Loud
3rd= Ruby Sproat
3rd= Benji Kingston
Class 67 Classical Duets 12 years and under
1st Noah Morgan & Marianne Finch
Class 66 Cabaret Duets 12 years and under
1st Hattie Kybert & Marianne Finch
2nd= Isobella Montgomery & Matilda Palmer
2nd= Rosie Eades & Lauren Dodden
3rd Calleigh Burgess & Layla Tovey
Class 29 Contemporary Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Daisy Beebee
2nd= Layla Tovey
2nd= Hattie Kybert
3rd Marianne Finch
Class 23 Classical Ballet Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Noah Morgan
2nd Ruby Sproat
3rd= Layla Tovey
3rd= Molly Webster
3rd= Hattie Kybert
Class 32 Commercial/Street Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Lia Hick
2nd Marianne Finch
3rd Louella Meakins
Class 33 Song and Dance 11 – 12 years
1st Noah Morgan
2nd Grace Smith
3rd Mia Lott
Class 31 Choreographic Solo 11 – 12 years
1st Henry Fryer
Thursday 9th March results
The second day of Dance at Highbridge Festival was very busy with mainly 9 – 10-year-old dancers taking part in solo, duet, trio and quartet classes. Many parents said how much they had enjoyed their day and would be entering their children again next year. They appreciated the adjudicator’s positive comments and the lovely way in which she spoke to the dancers. The day was rounded off with Junior Group Dances featuring children from six dance schools. The audience were delighted with the young dancers’ performances and adjudicator, Catherine Ingram, praised their patterning, which she could really appreciate from her vantage point high up in the tiered seating of the theatre. The Dance Section continues on Friday when 11 – 12 year-old dancers will take to the stage.
Class 37 Character Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Abi Latimer
2nd Leah Gordon
3rd Sofia Fella
Class 80 Classical Trio/Quartet 10 years and under
1st Evie Pheasant, Billy Cook & Rosie Childs
2nd Esme Stirling, Macey Pugh & Rosanna Upton
Class 38 Lyrical Modern Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Abi Latimer
2nd Saskia Gair
3rd= Sofia Fella
3rd= Chloe Jenkins
Class 42 Commercial/Street Solo 9 -10 years
1st Phoebe Brown
2nd Amelie Payne
Class 68 Cabaret Duet 10 years and under
1st Maisie Kinneir & Lily Magpantay
2nd Maja Rogowska & Abi Latimer
3rd Mollie Eagle & Ellie Jones
Class 39 Greek Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Phoebe Brown
Class 36 Tap Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Chloe Jenkins
2nd Florence Hazell
3rd Leah Gordon
Class 79 Cabaret Trio/Quartet 10 years and under
1st Charlotte Pheasant, Hali Langdon & Isla Langdon
2nd Keira Eagle, Quinn Walker-Blair & Lucy Poole
3rd Amanda Lynch, Hali Langdon & Isla Langdon
Class 35 Modern Solo 9 – 10 years
1st= Saskia Gair
1st= Chloe Jenkins
2nd= Abi Latimer
2nd= Florence Hazell
3rd= Maisie Kinneir
3rd= Matilda Palmer
3rd= Leah Gordon
3rd= Sofia Fella
Class 43 Song and Dance Solo 9 – 10 years
1st= Lacey Carroll
1st= Sophia-Rose Langridge
Class 34 Classical Ballet Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Saskia Gair
2nd= Maja Rogowska
2nd= Chloe Jenkins
3rd= Maisie Kinneir
3rd= Lily Sproat
Class 41 Choreographic Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Saskia Gair
Class 40 National Solo 9 – 10 years
1st Phoebe Brown
Class 87 Classical Junior Groups 10 years and under
1st= Christmas Morning – Signature Dance Studios
1st= Pirates of the Caribbean – Stepping Stones
2nd= The Garden Party – Lisa Jane School of Dance
2nd= Into the Forest – Fox King Dance Academy
3rd Beauty and the Beast – Spotlight Dance Academy
Class 86 Cabaret Junior Groups 10 years and under
1st Boogie – Fox King Dance Academy
2nd There’s Always Tomorrow – Spotlight Dance Academy
3rd= Superstar – Spotlight Dance Academy
3rd= Naughty – Spotlight Dance Academy
Wednesday 8th March results
Wednesday’s early morning snow didn’t deter nearly 50 young dancers from taking part in the first day of the Dance Section of Highbridge Festival. The enthusiastic dancers, some of whom were taking part in their first dance festival, travelled from as far afield as Bristol and Exmoor. Burnham and Highbridge Mayor, Cllr Lesley Millard, welcomed the audience and dancers to the Festival and said how much she had enjoyed watching them. The budding dancers delighted the audience with their dancing in a wide variety of solo styles from classical ballet, through tap and modern to commercial and street dance as well as portraying familiar characters and dancing duets. A group from Worle Village Primary School also shared their dance dressed as pirates. Thursday will see 9 – 10 year-old dancers compete, with Junior Groups taking to the stage in the early evening.
Class 49 Greek Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Sophie Hoydon
2nd Rosanna Upton
Class 48 Lyrical Modern Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Freya Jeffries
2nd Charlotte Pheasant
3rd= Evie Pheasant
3rd= Willow Griffiths
Class 61 Any Dance Solo 4 years and under
1st Ella Bennett
2nd Isla Miller
Class 50 National Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Rosana Upton
Class 47 Character Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Evie Jukes
2nd Rae Fry
3rd Olive Gaskell
Class 88 Any Dance Group Primary Schools
1st Worle Village Primary School
Class 60 Song and Dance Solo 6 years and under
1st= Alaya Buck
1st= Evie Pheasant
Class 45 Modern Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Zephaniah Morgan
2nd Freya Jeffries
3rd= Rae Fry
3rd= Evie Jukes
Class 53 Classical Ballet Solo 6 years and under
1st Aleksandra Rogowska
2nd Lorna Emery
3rd Billy Cook
Class 71 Classical Duet 8 years and under
1st Evie Jukes & Rae Fry
2nd Rosanna Upton & Sophie Hoydon
3rd Charlotte Pheasant & Lily Jones
Class 55 Tap Solo 6 years and under
1st Billy Cook
2nd Arla Eccles
Class 44 Classical Ballet Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Olive Gaskell
2nd Rae Fry
3rd= Evie Jukes
3rd= Bella van Niekerk
Class 54 Modern Solo 6 years and under
1st Alaya Buck
2nd= Evie Pheasant
2nd= Lorna Emery
2nd= Billy Cook
3rd= Arla Eccles
3rd= Grace Gibbons
3rd= Quinn Walker-Blair
Class 52 Song and Dance Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Evie Morehead
2nd Zephaniah Morgan
Class 51 Commercial/Street Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Yasmin Phillips
Class 46 Tap Solo 7 – 8 years
1st Freya Jeffries
2nd= Luke Gordon
2nd= Lily Jones
3rd= Ava Sayers
3rd= Charlotte Pheasant
Class 70 Cabaret Duet 8 years and under
1st Evie Jukes & Rae Fry
2nd Evie Pheasant & Billy Cook
Tuesday 7th March results
The second day of the Speech and Drama Section at The Princess Theatre saw sixty-five excited and rather nervous children from St Andrew’s, St Joseph’s and Worle Village Primary Schools take to the stage to recite set verse poems. A very appreciative audience praised the children’s bravery and quite a few tears were shed by the many proud parents. Mrs Jones, Year 2 Teacher from Worle Village Primary said, “We love coming to Highbridge Festival. It’s fantastic for the children to be able to be on the stage in the theatre and have this experience.” Kim Gilbert, the adjudicator, again praised the children for their hard work learning the poems and said, “I have really enjoyed my time at Highbridge Festival and I am so pleased that the children have the opportunity to take to the stage in such a wonderful venue.”
Class 106 Set Verse Speaking Year 5
1st= Irina Panaite
1st= Lewis Carhart
2nd= Poppy Haines
2nd= Ivy Kendrick
3rd= Lena Alvarez-reyes
3rd= Regan Harris
3rd= Fabian Record
Class 107 Set Verse Speaking Year 6
1st= Poppy Thomas
2nd= Ben Solijon
2nd= Sam Dodson
3rd Mia Bell
Class 102 Set Verse Speaking Year 1
1st= Lily Toogood
1st= Oscar Aves
2nd= Harry McErlain
2nd= Arlo Wilson
3rd= Dorothy Beattie
3rd= Thomas Evans
3rd= Myles Tuohy
Class 103 Set Verse Speaking Year 2
1st= Blossom Lee
1st= Marnie MacMillan
2nd= George Kirk
2nd= Elsie Ellis
2nd= Iris Hislop
3rd= Emi Smith
3rd= Rowen Franklin
Class 104 Set Verse Speaking Year 3
1st Hayden Toogood
2nd Finley Holmes
3rd Khloe-Rai Dainton
Class 105 Set Verse Speaking Year 4
1st Max Davies-Atwell
2nd Mae Bell
3rd Cody Sharp
Monday 6th March results
This year’s 75th Festival will see 500 children, young people and adults recited poetry, read original short stories and took part in drama groups at The Princess Theatre.
The day began with Choral Speaking as eighteen classes of children from five different primary schools competed for The Dorothy Reaney Trophy. Adjudicator, Kim Gilbert, said : “This had been very enjoyable and showed how teamwork can produce fun, interesting and exciting work. She said that it was delightful to see children of all ages taking to the stage to show what they could do.”
Several groups also showed their teamwork through improvised drama, with North Petherton Primary School working on the theme of kindness, Somerset Youth Theatre Highbridge Group developing ideas about pirates and Somerset Youth Theatre Highbridge Company devising a piece which started with a shoe. The evening was rounded off with short stories by two local authors and poetry recitals by two secondary aged children. The Speech & Drama Section continues on Tuesday 7 March with Set Verse Speaking.
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy
Overall winner – Kingfisher Class, St Andrew’s
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy Year 1
1st Brent Knoll Class, Churchfield
2nd Berrow Class, Churchfield
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy Year 2
1st Bridgwater Class, Churchfield
2nd Weston Class, Churchfield
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy Year 3
1st East Brent C of E Academy
2nd Taunton Class, Churchfield
3rd= Brent Knoll Primary School
3rd= Wells Class, Churchfield
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy Y4
1st Kingfisher Class, St Andrew’s
2nd Weasel Class, St Andrew’s
3rd= Magpie Class, St Andrew’s
3rd= North Petherton Community Primary School
Choral Speech – Dorothy Reaney Trophy Year 5
1st Exeter Class, Churchfield
2nd Bath Class, Churchfield
Class 122 Group Theme
1st North Petherton Community Primary School
Class 129H Original Short Story
1st Kim Lewis
2nd Jane Lee
Class 109 Set Verse Speaking Year 8
1st Amelia Rose
Class 108 Set Verse Speaking Year 7
1st Kaitlyn Smith
