YOUNG musical stars from across Inverclyde have come together to showcase their talent at the 87th annual Inverclyde Music Festival.

Greenock Town Hall has burst into life with singing, dancing and musical performances thrilling crowds of proud parents and families since the annual event kicked off on Monday.

The popular festival runs until 4 February by which point the district's best will have tested their skills in front of adjudicators for the chance to win one of many coveted trophies and prizes.

Yesterday, well-rehearsed country dancers from St Mary's Primary School and Ardgowan Primary School took to the stage to pit their talents against each other.

Dancing in the mixed and girls' teams, they performed reels and jigs with routines called 'Golden Bracken' and 'It's Nae Bother'.

Adjudicator and Scottish country dancing expert Margo Priestly praised the performances of all contestants.

She told them: "It has been wonderful to see children of your age taking such an interest in Scottish country dancing - I want you all to keep dancing."

A group of girls from St Mary's - the 'B' team made up of primary four and five pupils - saw off the competition to dance away with the Clune Park Trophy for their performance of The Brundenell Jig.

Head teacher Angela Guthrie said: "I am very pleased with the girls and their performance today but all the teams have done very well.

"There was not much between them - they all gave it 100 per cent."

Also taking to the stage yesterday afternoon were solo singers from primary five and under from schools across the district.

They were judged in heats and entertained friends and family in the audience who had gathered to watch their tuneful performances.

The girls sang Omens of Spring by WH Anderson and the boys performed The Smuggler Men.

Also facing the adjudicators this week are drums, strings, bagpipes, brass, woodwind and piano players, while verse reading competitors will also do their utmost to land a trophy.

Results INSTRUMENTAL Class 207A (Albert Paterson Trophy), Piano class, 18 and under: Through to the final - Adam Stinson, Gourock; Amy Crawford, Bridge of Weir.

Class 205 (Cowie Trophy), Primary school pupils: 1, Kedar Crossan, Quarriers Village (88); 2 equal, Rory Campbell, Kilmacolm; Lewis McWhirter, Kilmacolm (87).

Class 211, Piano solo, 11 and under: 1, Linda Lee, Glasgow (86); 2, Amy Drysdale-Dykes, Brookfield (85).

Class 204: Piano class, with teacher, 9 and under: 1, Grace McLoughlin, Kilmacolm (86); 2, Eva Alison, Helensburgh (85).

Class 214, Piano duet, 11 and under: 1, Molly Cuthbertson, Amy Drysdale-Dykes, Bridge of Weir (86); 2, Rory Cambell, Anna Campbell, Kilmacolm (85).

Class 219, 6 hands, 11 and under: James Borland, Lewis McWhirter, Rory Campbell, Bridge of Weir (84).

Class 220, 6 hand, 13 and under: Anna Campbell, Amy Crawford, Hannah McLoughlin, Kilmacolm (83).

Class 229, Scots fiddle, 13 and under: 1, Jessica Muir, Airdrie (86, 85, 171); 2 equal, Heather Munro, Bishopton; Amelia Macpherson, Dunoon (83, 84, 157).

Class 230, Scots fiddle, 18 and under: 1, Mairi Voinot, Lochgilphead (87); 2, Mirian Donald, Erskine (85).

Class 231, Scots fiddle, senior: Clare Eagle, Kilmacolm (86).

Class 235, String and piano duet, 18 and under: Rebecca Anderson, Clare Eagle, Kilmacolm (85).

Class 206 (Diana W. Hodge Memorial Trophy), Piano class, 18 and under: 1, Hamish Wards, Bridge of Weir (87); 2, Rachael Curry, Kilmacolm (86).

Class 207B (Albert Paterson Trophy), Piano class, 18 and under: Through to the final - Jenny Webster, Bridge of Weir; Thomas Rainey, Lochwinnoch.

Class 215, Piano Duet, 13 and under: Jenny Webster, Jasmine Galvin, Bridge of Weir (86).

Class 216, Piano duet, 15 and under: 1, Zoe Borland, Katia Guyler, Bridge of Weir (85); 1, Lorna Robertson, Alistair Robertson, Quarriers Village (83).

Class 213, Piano Solo, 16-18 years: Clare Eagle, Kilmacolm (87).

Class 217, Piano duet (18 and under): Rebecca Anderson, Clare Eagle, Kilmacolm (86).

Class 208 (M.H. Todd Trophy), Piano class, 18 and under: 1, Bruce Wards, Bridge of Weir (88); 2, Maria Elisa Carbonell, Largs (87).


SINGING Class 74, School Choirs, P3-4: 1, St Mary's Primary, Greenock (88, 87, 175); 2 equal, Aileymill Primary, Greenock (85, 85, 170); St John's Primary, Port Glasgow (84, 86, 170).

Class 73 (S.A. Hanlon Shield), School choirs, P1-2: Aileymill Primary, Greenock (85, 83, 168).

Class 75 (Ardgowan Trophy), School choirs, P5-7: 1, Gourock Primary, Gourock (87, 85, 172); 2, Kilmacolm Primary, Kilmacolm (83, 86, 169).

Class 35A (Con Gill (Little White Bull) Trophy), Songs from musicals/Disney films, 10 and under: Through to the final - Natasha Clark, Gourock; Millie McCartney, Greenock; Ruaidhri Black, Gourock.

Class 12 (William Dunsmore Trophy), Vocal solo, girls 14 and under: 1, Ciara Ewing, Kilmacolm (86); 2, Ruth Hutchinson, West Kilbride (85).

Class 38A, Songs from the shows/light opera, 16 and under: 1, Claire Docherty, Gourock (86); 2, Nicola Bain, Port Glasgow (85).