Repton's Musician of the Year - The Result

The concluding part of this year's music competitions was held last night to find Repton's Junior and Senior Young Musician of the Year. We were very fortunate to have the distinguished musician Adrian Partington to adjudicate. He had already visited Repton in his previous capacity of Director of Music at Abbots Bromley School several years ago and interestingly years before that his father had also judged the music competitions here. Mr Partington said that 'he was thrilled by the standard of all the performances, all of which were genuinely impressive and well performed.' There was certainly much to enjoy in both the Junior and Senior competitions.

Joseph Jankinson (L) won the Junior prize, playing the first movement of Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C Major. Playing from memory, he negotiated this difficult movement with apparent ease and elegant phrasing. For a B Blocker to win this prize is most impressive. The result was certainly not a foregone conclusion as there were several other excellent performances vying for the prize, with pupils playing and singing on instruments as diverse as the 'cello and piano to bass guitar and drum kit. To have playing of such a consistently high standard throughout the Junior section bodes extremely well for the music here in the future.

The Senior title was won by Hattie Rayfield (F), playing the viola solo from Berlioz's Harold in Italy Serenade. Originally written for Paganini, the contrasting moods in this deceptively difficult movement were well delivered with first the appropriately rustic, dance feel of the introduction contrasting with the lovely rich tone required for the principal romantic melody.

It was a terrific evening, one in which some of our finest musicians were able to perform to an appreciative and knowledgeable audience. Both Joseph Jankinson and Hattie Rayfield have the chance to retain their cups next year too. I can hardly wait!