A SINGER has won the top prize in a music competition for the second time.
Sophie Rowland, 18, won the Amy Underhill trophy for the outstanding performance in the 2010 Queen’s School Festival of Music, which took place on Sunday (February 28).
Sophie, of Tarporley, won the trophy for her performances of Alleluia from Mozart’s motet Exsultate, jubilate and Sondheim’s A Glamorous Life from the musical A Little Night Music, displaying vocal control and virtuosity beyond her years.
Sophie also won the prize in 2008 and is currently rehearsing the role of Maria in the school’s forthcoming production of West Side Story.
The festival trophy is named after a former Queen’s School music student who died in a car accident in 2007.
Runner up was Áine Jackson who impressed the adjudicators and audience with her technically demanding performance of Arban’s The Carnival of Venice for baritone horn.
There were 18 different classes in the festival with more than 120 girls taking part in performances ranging from saxophone ensembles to solo string performances and vocal duets to piano trios.
Judges were Kathy Rundell, head of music at Manchester Grammar School for Girls, professional singer Susie Braime and professional pianist and chamber musician Claire Dunham.
Claire said: "Once again we are amazed by the high level of performances and professionalism that the pupils at The Queen’s School display. It seems that the standard this year was even higher than ever! The girls are so lucky to be part of such a wonderful music department."
Winners of The Queen’s School Festival of Music 2010
Preliminary woodwind: Scarlett Banfield
Intermediate woodwind: Isabelle Ardron
Advanced woodwind and winner of the Swann woodwind trophy: Hannah Caitlin-Roberts
Gill Church Brass Cup: Áine Jackson
Instrumental ensemble and the James Surfleet trophy: Saxophone quartet of Sophie Donald, Sarah Burgess, Amy Clarke and Lujzka Halsall-Fischel
Vocal ensemble: Anna Molyneux and Gemma Pool
Preliminary strings: Rebecca Willetts
Intermediate strings: Tess Hulson
Advanced strings and winner of the string trophy: Ellie Tedstone
Piano Duet Cup: Alicia Logan and Ellie Mellor
Preliminary piano: Frances Whorrall-Campbell
Intermediate piano: Eleanor Jones
Advanced piano and winner of the piano trophy: Shreya Ingley
Drum kit: Rebecca Spaven
Preliminary vocal class and Junior Vocal Trophy: Emma Poulten
Intermediate classical vocal: Ellie Tedstone
Intermediate popular vocal: Anna Molyneux
Advanced classical vocal: Sophie Rowland
Advanced popular vocal and the Ann Brotherhood vocal trophy: Sophie Rowland
Runner up of the whole festival: Áine Jackson
Winner of the Amy Underhill trophy for outstanding performance in the festival: Sophie Rowland