24 May 2023
Woldingham was very well-represented in the vocal section of the recent Reigate & Redhill Music and Drama Festival, with wins for eight of our 12 excellent entrants and one duet selected to perform at the festival’s celebratory gala concert.
Antonina M, Maya T, Sophia T (Year 7), Chloe F, Ella A, Megan v R, Maria Eduarda d O E A (Year 9), Guilia B, Vara M (Year 10), Keira M, Alana D (Year 11) and Iona H (Lower Sixth) competed in a range of categories, including classical, musical theatre, folk and pop, in front of expert adjudicator Andrew Rees, a tenor who has performed with all the major opera companies in concert halls and opera houses across the world.
Singing teacher Miss Kirsty McLean was delighted with her students, saying: "I am so proud of all the students who took part in the festival, which gave them a wonderful opportunity to perform alongside other young people from the area, to share the music they enjoy singing, and their music-making talent. They all sang brilliantly and flourished in a pressured environment. It brought out a wonderful confidence in them all. I'm so glad they enjoyed their time competing."
Woldingham’s festival winners were:
Maria Eduarda: Nightingale Sang, ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Girls 13-14yrs)
Megan: When I was your man, Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys and Girls 13-14 yrs)
Alana: The Bird’s Lament, Classical Solo (Girls 15yrs)
Guilia: I’m not that girl, Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys and Girls 13-14 yrs)
Antonina: Wondering, ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Boys and Girls 11-12 yrs)
Antonina: Red Rose, Folk Song Solo (Boys and Girls up to 12yrs)
Keira: Loose Ends, Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Girls 16-18 yrs)
Keira: On My Own, ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Girls 16-18yrs)
Maya and Sophia: Some things are meant to be, Duet or Trio (11 yrs and under)
Maria Eduarda and Megan: You love who you love, Duet or Trio (12 to 18 yrs)
Maya and Sophia also had the honour of performing at the festival’s celebratory gala concert in Redhill on Tuesday 23 May – one of 24 acts selected from more than 900 festival entries.