Afternoon Session
Young singers and choirs took centre stage in the Sanctuary at St Matthew’s Church today (Monday) as the Perth Festival of the Arts hosted a full programme of vocal competitions adjudicated by respected Scottish musician Tara Leiper.
The afternoon session opened with youth choir classes featuring the Julie Young Choir, conducted by Gemma Farren, performing across three age categories.
In the under-12 class, the choir delighted the audience with Over the Rainbow and A Million Dreams. Their under-15 ensemble followed with an energetic programme including This Is Me and a powerful arrangement of The Sound of Silence.
The under-18 choir concluded the sequence with moving performances of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen and George Michael’s Freedom.
The Perthshire Church Choir Union Challenge Baton is awarded to the best choir across these classes, provided a mark of 85 or above is achieved.
Musical theatre talent on show
The festival then turned to individual performers in the Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (pre-2000) class for singers aged 14–15, where six competitors from schools across Perthshire demonstrated impressive stage presence.
Repertoire ranged from The Beauty and the Beast to Wouldn’t It Be Loverly from My Fair Lady. One of the highlights of the class was a heartfelt performance of On My Own from Les Misérables by Millie Nicolson of Julie Young Dance Studios and Centre for Performing Arts.
Competitors included singers from Glenalmond College, Perth High School, St John’s RC Academy and Kinross High School, reflecting the strong musical tradition across local schools.
In the 16–17 Musical Theatre class (from 2000), performers tackled modern repertoire including several interpretations of Burn from Hamilton, alongside songs such as You’ll Be Back, Better Off Worse, and When I Kissed the Teacher from Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Results
Young singers and choirs impressed adjudicators and audiences alike during the afternoon session of the Perform in Perth Festival, with strong performances across youth choir and musical theatre vocal classes.
The Julie Young Choir, conducted by Gemma Farren, competed in all three youth choir categories using backing tracks and achieved marks of 80 in the Under-12 class, 82 in the Under-15 class, and 85 in the Under-18 class. The classes were held for the Perthshire Church Choir Union Challenge Baton.
In the Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (pre-2000) class for ages 14–15, Millie Nicolson of Julie Young Dance Studios and Centre for Performing Arts achieved the highest mark with 86. She was closely followed by Emma Hall of Kinross High School with 85, while James Doogan of St John’s RC Academy and Nicole Dudau of Glenalmond College each received 83.
The Vocal Solo – Musical Theatre (2000 onwards) class for ages 16–17 produced particularly strong competition. Dylan Wallace of Blairgowrie High School led the class with an impressive 87. Bayleigh Neil and Lila Duffy of Julie Young Dance Studios both achieved 86, while Robyn Tracey of Blairgowrie High School, Caitlin Jack of Glenalmond College, Lily-Mae Stewart of Kinross High School, and Tasmin Smith of Pirrie Performing Arts each received 85.
Adjudicators remarks
Under 12 Choir
The adjudicator praised the choir’s secure focus on the conductor and good ensemble awareness, which helped create a tight and coordinated performance. Over the Rainbow showed clear lyrics and good engagement, though singers were encouraged to strengthen consonants and keep their heads steady on higher leaps to maintain tone. A Million Dreamswas described as rhythmic, enthusiastic and well-synchronised, with good energy and strong connection with the conductor. Greater precision in finishing phrases together was suggested.
Under 15 Choir
The performance of The Sound of Silence was commended for musical phrasing, well-managed syncopation and strong ensemble unity. The adjudicator noted that unison singing is demanding, but the choir handled it well with a good blend of tone. Singers were encouraged to watch the conductor carefully for coordinated entries and endings, keep final consonants clear, and use more facial expression to communicate the story.
In This Is Me, the choir delivered a confident, rhythmic and well-phrased performance, with effective overlapping lines and good balance. Suggestions included clearer consonants, lighter tone on lower notes, and slightly reduced dynamics behind soloists to help them stand out.
Under 18 Choir
The adjudicator highlighted a strong ensemble blend and sense of style, particularly in Hallelujah. Attention was drawn to stage presentation and uniformity of posture, encouraging the choir to present a consistent visual appearance. Technical advice included preparing carefully for vocal leaps and maintaining projection on lower notes.
In Freedom, the choir showed excellent energy and well-executed riff passages, with phrasing and style well handled. However, the adjudicator suggested clearer diction, better balance between text and accompanying vocal lines, and greater dynamic and tonal variety, noting a slight loss of synchronicity at the ending.
Class 108 – Musical Theatre
The adjudicator praised the performances for being expressive and musically delivered, with clear enjoyment of the repertoire. Competitors were encouraged to develop their own interpretation of well-known musical theatre songs, particularly the older classics, so that the performance feels fresh and personal. Attention was drawn to maintaining character throughout the entire performance, even during instrumental passages, ensuring the audience always understands the performer’s emotional state and the context of the song.
Class 114 – Musical Theatre
Performances in this class were described as energised, rhythmic and musically secure. The adjudicator encouraged performers to explore interpretation and storytelling further, using facial expression and stage presence to strengthen communication with the audience. Maintaining character while the piano is playing and ensuring the performance remains dramatically engaged from start to finish were highlighted as important aspects of effective musical theatre presentation.