Perth Festival of the Arts – Vocal and Choir Classes Fill St Matthew’s with Music
An appreciative audience gathered in the Sanctuary of St Matthew’s Church on Monday evening for a varied programme of vocal and choral competition at the Perth Festival of the Arts. The session was adjudicated by Tara Leiper and showcased a wide range of soloists, duets and choirs performing repertoire spanning classical song, Scots music, musical theatre and opera.
The evening opened with the Contralto Solo (18 & over) class competing for the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Trophy, presented by Mrs Dalziel. Shannon McKinney performed Britten’s arrangement of O Can Ye Sew Cushions, while Robyn Middlemass of Glenalmond College sang Haydn’s My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair and Clara Schumann’s Ich stand in dunklen Träumen.
In the Bass Solo (18 & over) class, Bruce Paterson delivered two contrasting works: Warlock’s Captain Stratton’s Fancyand Vaughan Williams’ beloved Linden Lea.
The Soprano Solo (18 & over) class featured Iona Melloy performing Quilter’s Love’s Philosophy and Strauss’s lyrical Die Nacht.
The musical theatre section followed, with competitors performing for the Michael J. Beese Memorial Quaich, presented by Perth Amateur Operatic Society for the best performance in adult musical theatre. Alexandra Paton of Perth College sang Without You from My Fair Lady, while Clara Milne of Glenalmond College performed Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from The Phantom of the Opera. Alexandra Paton also appeared in the class for musical theatre works from 2000 onwards, performing Home by Eddie Perfect.
The Gilbert and Sullivan Solo (18 & over) class saw Bruce Paterson return to the stage with When I Went to the Bar as a Very Young Man, competing for the Alex Stewart Memorial Trophy, presented by Miss Heather Stewart.
Opera followed with the Opera Solo (18 & over) class, competing for an award presented by Miss J. M. Dalgleish in memory of her parents, Mr and Mrs G. Dalgleish. Christina Hay and Alexandra Paton both performed Handel’s celebrated aria Lascia ch’io pianga.
Scottish song featured strongly later in the programme. In the Scots Songs – Soprano (18 & over) class, Irene McFarlane performed There Was a May and The Queen’s Maries, both arranged by J. Michael Diack. In the Scots Songs – Bass (18 & over) class, Bruce Paterson sang Bonnie George Campbell and Burns’ Ae Fond Kiss.
The evening also included a lively Vocal Duet (18 & over) class, with Eilidh Morton and Alexandra Paton performing Dance With You from The Prom and Apex Predator from Mean Girls.
Choral singing brought the evening to a close. In the Church Choir class, competing for the Crawford Chalice, Kinross-Shire Parish Church Choir conducted by Isobel Watt presented a programme including Rutter’s Sans Day Carol, You Are the Light by John Bible and John Fettke, and Celtic Communion by Mark Hayes.
The Open Choir (Female, Male and Mixed Voices) class saw Toccata Ladies Choir, conducted by Claire Christie, performed works by John Ireland, Schubert and Harry Warren, while Kirkintilloch Ladies Choir, conducted by Dr Stephen Langston, offered pieces including Echoes of a Voice and Et in Terra Pax.
Results
| Class | Category | Competitor | Affiliation | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 | Vocal Solo, Contralto (18+) | Shannon McKinney | – | 82 |
| 122 | Vocal Solo, Contralto (18+) | Robyn Middlemass | Glenalmond College | 78 |
| 125 | Vocal Solo, Bass (18+) | Bruce Paterson | – | 80 |
| 120 | Vocal Solo, Soprano (18+) | Iona Melloy | – | 82 |
| 128 | Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (pre-2000) | Alexandra Paton | Perth College | 83 |
| 128 | Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (pre-2000) | Clara Milne | Glenalmond College | 78 |
| 129 | Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (from 2000) | Alexandra Paton | Perth College | 85 |
| 130 | Vocal Solo – Opera (18+) | Alexandra Paton | Perth College | 80 |
| 130 | Vocal Solo – Opera (18+) | Christina Hay | – | 78 |
| 133 | Vocal Solo – Scots Songs, Soprano (18+) | Irene McFarlane | – | 81 |
| 138 | Vocal Solo – Scots Songs, Bass (18+) | Bruce Paterson | – | 78 |
| 142 | Vocal Duet (18+) | Eilidh Morton & Alexandra Paton | – | 80 |
| 086 | Choir, Church | Kinross-Shire Parish Church Choir (Conductor: Isobel Watt) | – | 85 |
| 084 | Choir, Open | Toccata Ladies Choir (Conductor: Claire Christie) | – | 88 |
| 084 | Choir, Open | Kirkintilloch Ladies Choir (Conductor: Dr Stephen Langston) | – | 86 |