THE MASTER of the Queen's Music was the first to congratulate Calne Music and Arts Festival's primary school choir after they paid homage to two American icons of the 20th century.

Judith Weir, the critically acclaimed composer and patron of the festival, praised the performances from Holy Trinity Academy, St Nicholas' School, Priestley School, St Margaret's School, Heddington School, St Edmund's Academy and Derry Hill School held at John Bentley on Tuesday afternoon.

The eight schools joined forces to sing a medley of songs from late great Frank Sinatra and of Bob Dylan in front of 200 proud parents and festivalgoers.

Hilary Wright, Chair of the Calne Music and Arts Festival, said: "The Primary Schools Concert, which is an annual feature of the CMAF was again a complete sell out and a great success. The theme this year was American Icons of the 20th Century and the children sang the songs of Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan much to the delight of the adults in the audience!

"It was a wonderful joyous hour and Judith Weir, who is also the Festival Patron, was able to attend as in her role of Master of the Queen's Music she is especially committed to supporting music in schools.

"She congratulated them on the amount of effort and hard work they have put in to achieve such a high standard of singing and recognised that none of this would have been possible without the support of the music teachers in the schools and Peter Grant, Assistant Headteacher at John Bentley School who had planned and co-ordinated the whole event."