A RECORD-BREAKING 200 talented musicians took part in the thirteenth Solihull Music Festival last month with various classes for piano, strings and singers available.
11 year old Megan Doyle, who is taught by music teacher Fiona Krober, was presented with the Solihull Musician of the Year Helen Willies Trophy and £250 to help further her musical education.
The annual competition has grown from attracting 60 competitors in 2002, to a record entry this year and has become recognised as one of the prestigious competitions of its type in the midlands.
The festival is organized by the rotary club of Solihull.
Chairman of the festival committee, rotarian Bill Vine, paid tribute to the musical talent in and around the borough of Solihull taking part in this popular event.
One of the events key organisers, Keith Moody, said: “The day was very busy with a large number of competitors and very willing and enthusiastic helpers.
“The adjudicators were very impressed with the high standard of organisation and how smoothly the day ran.”
Due to the high number of competitors, some of the piano classes had to be started on Friday evening to enable the adjudicators ample time to see the high standards set by competitors.
Keith added: “Music teachers from not only Solihull encourage their top student to enter, we also have entrants from Birmingham, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Warwick and Coventry.
“There’s been a steady increase each year, we was delighted to received 200 entry forms this year.”
The Sponsors, Touchwood Shopping Centre, Nicholls Lefevre & Co, and Earlswood Garden & Landscape Centre were also thanked for their support, without which the Festival would not be possible.
