THE second half of the South Cumbria Musical Festival saw Ulverston's Coronation Hall play host to yet more impressive performances from some of the most talented musical names in the region. The Westmorland Gazette continues its coverage by rounding up the week with the festival results and pictures.

ENTHUSIASTIC and varied performances helped round off this year's successful South Cumbria Musical Festival.

Wednesday kicked off with instrumental classes and James Kirby continued as adjudicator for the recorder, woodwind and string performers.

The morning consisted of solos and a duet in the recorder classes, performances from a variety of woodwind instruments and a mother and daughter woodwind duet.

While in the afternoon, listeners were entertained by school groups in the music making class, with Mr Kirby commenting on all the enthusiastic performances.

The afternoon finished with the strings classes, with competitors performing a wide range of music.

Thursday saw the turn of youth vocals and school choirs, with regular festival visitor Marilynne Davies welcomed back as adjudicator for vocal classes.

Youth vocal classes took place in the afternoon and covered school years up to 13 with Faye Bowness and Rebecca Chandler receiving a distinction in the duet class for their rendition of Silent Worship by Handel.

Performances covered a range of styles, including folk song, Disney tunes, show songs and 20th century music.

Ms Davies was very encouraging and gave competitors lots of positive advice on presentation and singing technique.

The school choirs classes were held in the evening and the highest mark of the evening went to St. James Catholic School Millom, for three of its classes, and to Dalton St. Mary’s Performing Arts Club for its class.

Ms Davies informed the audience that they were very lucky in this area to have so many school choirs entering the festival, as this is not the case in many other parts of the country.

Friday saw Ms Davies adjudicate the junior and youth vocalists during the morning and afternoon, finishing the day with the adult performers.

There was a high standard of performance throughout the day with Kai Nicholas, Isobel Pringle and Oliver Banks receiving distinctions for their performances in the solo classes.

Friday evening featured a range of classes from the adult vocals which included British composer, songs from the shows and a duet of two contrasting pieces.

Ms Davies gave some good constructive comments which will assist their further involvement in vocal performance.

The adult choir classes took centre stage on Saturday and, as usual, there was a wide range of items for the audience to enjoy.

Barrow Male Voice Choir won the Oxley Developments Rosebowl and in the Ladies Choir Class, Otto Voce from Milnthorpe, narrowly beat The Ghyll Singers by one point to win the Ghyll Singers Trophy.

Lastly it was time for Gala Evening, with the Furness Music Centre Orchestra opening the evening’s events, followed by performances from competitors from a variety of classes throughout the festival and the evening's proceedings were brought to a close by female saxophone quartet Ragazza.

Keith Butcher, SCMF chairman said that it had been a 'very successful festival'.

"Our adjudicators have all been impressed with the high standard of performances throughout the week," he said. "Marilynne Davies, our speech adjudicator, complimented us on our high standards and was very pleased to see so many school choirs entering the festival, as this is not the case in many other parts of the country.

"Special thanks must go to the five people who volunteered their services, at short notice, to accompany our performers at the festival, following the sad loss of Tony Milledge - Ian Honeyman, Adrian Self, Zina Preston, Margaret Harrison and Mark Latimer."

He added that it was now time to look forward to the 42nd festival, which will take place in from March 18-24, 2018.

Saturday - Adult Choirs

Choir. Male Voice - 18 plus, The Oxley Developments Rosebowl: Barrow Male Voice Choir. Ladies Voice - 18 plus, The Ghyll Singers Trophy: 1 Ottovoce; 2 The Ghyll Singers. Esther C Croskery and Aprille C Bonner Performance Award: Faye Bowness. The Barrow Town Shield and Bursary, The Barrow Arts Forum Shield: Chapel Street Infants and Nursery School. The Millom Town Shield and Bursary: St James Catholic Primary School. The Ulverston Town Shield and Bursary: St Mary’s School. The George Nicholls Award: Bethany Pugh.