Festival gets off to flying start
Lisa Hodge • Published 25 Jan 2011 10:00
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IN TUNE: Anna Campbell and Rory Campbell hit the high notes after coming first with their piano duet.
MINI musical maestros were in fine tune yesterday for the start of the 86th Inverclyde Music Festival.
Superb soloists and perfect pianists launched the annual musical extravaganza to a delighted crowd.
Parents, grandparents, relatives and music fans alike flocked to Greenock Town Hall for the opening day of the fortnight-long show.
Young musicians from schools across Inverclyde took to the stage and impressed an audience of their friends, family and peers - as well as a panel of judges.
President of Inverclyde Music Festival, Isabel Lind, said the first day got off to a promising start.
She added: "We are delighted at how successful the first day of the festival has been. The children played to a packed house this morning, which was wonderful to see. The support from the Inverclyde community is always fantastic. They really come out to show their support for the children."
Mrs Lind says the festival has seen the return of some regular faces - but has also welcomed the arrival of new ones.
She added: "St Francis Primary in Port Glasgow have taken part for the first year, which is wonderful and something we just love to see. Hopefully they will have a great experience and will take part every year."
Warming up backstage was talented trio Alice Graham, 11, Susie Smith, 10, and nine-year-old Clara Pollock.
Despite attending different schools, the three youngsters were performing a piano trio which they had put together with their mutual music teacher.
Alice, a pupil at St Columba's, said: "We have the same piano teacher so we're performing together. We've been practising since before Christmas, but we're not nervous, - just excited to get on stage."
Nine-year-old soloist Hannah Findlater took to the stage to sing Ride On A Rainbow, but it was her mum Shona, 36, who was feeling nervous.
Shona said: "She's been practising since November. I feel very proud, but I'm so nervous too. I don't know where she gets the courage from. I could never get up and do it. She's so brave."
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 25 Jan 11
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