Talented youngsters wow at the Eisteddfod

1:46pm Monday 19th November 2007

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EIGHT-year-old violinist Ciara Parker-Northeast captured all hearts at the winners' concert at Devizes Junior Eisteddfod.

The tiny blonde virtuoso not only won the trophies for violin solo under 11 and under 14, but her performance also brought her the William Dauntesey Cup for the best junio r performance at Saturday night's concert in Devizes Town Hall.

The full house in the Assembly Room listened incredulous as diminutive Ciara confidently presented first the third movement from Concerto number 2 by Seitz and then J S Bach's Gavotte in G Minor.

Ciara's performance was just one of many highlights from Saturday's competition, the 61st since Ray Smith began it in 1946.

Adam Lomas, winner of the prizes for brass solo 11 and under and 13 and under, performed a piece from Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March number four and Reflections by Curnow on the tuba.

It was a night for joint prizes. Four singers shared The Sanderson Cup for songs from the shows. Luc Enright won a huge ovation by singing The Ugly Duckling from Hans Christian Anderson, but Niamh Dunne, Sophie O'Donnell and Juliette Casini were also worthy winners.

Thomas Cole and Sophie Crawford shared the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald Cup for newsreading with a piece about the new CCTV system in Devizes.

Atlanta Hatch and Samuel Dawson shared the prize for best piano solo 9 and under. Atlanta performed The Old Windmill by Dunhill.

Verse speaking 12 and under was won by Antonia Riley, who recited The Sea by James Reeves. Then a very assured Connor Ford gave a thrilling reading from Anthony Horowitz's Nightrise as winner of prepared reading 12 and under.

The Mill School Junior Recorder Group performed as winners of the recorder group nine and under.

Vocal solo winner Rachel Crofts sang The Cuckoo by Shaw. She shared the overall vocal solo prize with Sophie O'Donnell and Charlotte Brown.

Winners of the string duet 11 and under, Alice Hook and Lindsay Reid, gave their rendition of Chiming before The Mill School Chamber Choir sang the Star Carol by John Rutter.

The audience was delighted by Beth Fiducia-Brookes' mime entitled Snowman. Beth not only won the prize for mime 14 and under but the William Salmon Cup for literary classes and the James Oram Cup for versatility.

Edward Lindsey, winner of piano solo 16 and under played Debussy's Clair de Lune before Louis Casini played Russian Bear by Ryan on guitar.

Alice Sewell and Elizabeth Cope, winners of piano duet 12 and under, played Country Ragtime by Mier before Oliver Cameron read from The Gospel of St Mark.

Beth Fiducia-Brookes and Charlotte Farrow performed a duologue by Alan Ayckbourn about an imaginary friend coming to life, while Isabella Bryan performed The Bluebells of Scotland on the recorder.

As winners of the ensemble 13 and under, flautists Daisy Anderson, Nancy Morrison and Portia Cox performed The Heavenly Choir.

Emma Marlow and Sarah Wood sang a Song of Farewell before the choir of St Francis School brought proceedings to a close with the Ascot Gavotte from Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady.

The trophies were presented by town mayor Julian Beinhorn.

Full story , pictures and results in the Gazette on Thursday.