THE 87th Inverclyde Music Festival was today hailed by organisers as 'a vintage year'.

Festival president Isabel Lind said the two-week musical extravaganza, which concluded on Saturday night, produced 'outstanding performances' which impressed audiences and adjudicators.

Mrs Lind says that planning is already starting ahead of the 2013 showcase - and the competitors will have a lot to live up to.

She said: "Standards were particularly high this year.

"The secondary school choirs were absolutely astounding and received extremely high marks.

"I said at the start of the festival that I wanted it to be fun and friendly with fine performances, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

"There was a lovely atmosphere throughout the entire fortnight."

Commenting on the closing concert on Saturday night, Mrs Lind said it featured some incredible instrumental performances.

She told the Tele: "It was a great concert - just fantastic."

Mrs Lind added that the introduction of Gaelic classes in recent years had enriched the festival.

She said: "The Greenock area has a strong Gaelic tradition.

"People used to say you couldn't walk down West Blackhall Street without hearing someone speaking Gaelic and next year we would like to see Gaelic performances as part of the final concert."

Preparations are also being made to make the year after next, 2014, an extra-special one, as it will mark the 100th anniversary of the first festival.

Several years were missed because of the two world wars.

The cost of running the event has risen considerably over the decades and this year, for the first time, a display was mounted in the town hall to outline how the total bill now amounts to �22,000.

Mrs Lind said some of this year's visitors told her they had no idea of the extensive costs involved.

The president also expressed her thanks to the Greenock Telegraph for our in-depth coverage of the festival.

She said: "We are linked to the British and International Federation of Music, Dance and Speech, and they were so impressed with the Telegraph's coverage that they mentioned it in their newsletter.

"That sort of extensive coverage doesn't happen everywhere, and we are very grateful for it."

Mrs Lind added that people were already contacting her with ideas for next year's festival.

She said: "The future is looking very bright."

MAJOR AWARDS

The Dr David L Baxter Trophy and the David Dickson Silver Award (awarded to the winner of the Honours class for senior vocal soloists): Wendy King and Irene Loudon.

The Duncan Brown Trophy (awarded to the competitor with the best aggregate marks in bagpipe classes in the age group 16 and under): Sandy Ritchie.

The Cuthbert Forster Memorial Trophy (awarded the the best performance by a school entrans in designated classes): Notre Dame High School.

The A. Willis Calder Memorial Trophy (awarded for the best performance by any girl of boy entrant in appropriate vocal solo classes): Melissa Meighan.

The Jack Paterson Memorial Shield (awarded to the best solo instrumental performer in the age group 7-11 years): Kedar Crossan.

The Musicians Union (Greenock Branch Shield (awarded to the best junior solo instrumental performer in age group 12-18 years): Kieran Young.

The John Langan Trophy (awarded to the most promising young woodwind player with the highest mark in designated classes): Kieran Young.

The J.A. Sloan Trophy (awarded to the overall winner of the advanced solo brass class): Marcus Shanks.

The Marie Hagen Trophy (awarded for the best performance by entrants in speech classes for set poems): Caitlin Morrison.

The Mabel Irving Trophy (awarded to the best performance by entrants in speech classes for Burns): Robbie Peden.

The Robert W.T. McNab Memorial Trophy (awarded to the junior country dance team who gives the best performance): Ardgowan Primary School P6-7.

The McCaig Quaich (awarded to the competitor with the best aggregate marks in bagpipe classes in age group 14 and under): Keir Brown.

The Alasdair Rankin Trophy (awarded to the best performance by entrants in the percussion classes): Hollie Fyfe.

The George Parkhill Trophy (awarded to the best performance by entrants in junior piano solo classes): Christopher Duffy.

The David Cairns MP Trophy (awarded for excellence in speech): Anna Robertson.

The Jean Rennie Trophy (awarded to the most promising string player): Rebecca Olej.

RESULTS SINGING Class 44 (correction): Traditional folk song, 18 and under: Kirsty McArthur, Greenock (86).

Class 84 (Ravenscraig Primary School Trophy), School choir, Gaelic: Highlanders' Academy, Greenock (83, 85, 168).

Class 325, Parent and child class, 15 and under: 1, Bruce Wards, Agnes Wards, Bridge of Weir (89); 2, Stewart Wards, Agnes Wards, Bridge of Weir (88).

Class 324, Parent and child class, 11 and under: Hamish Wards, Agnes Wards, Bridge of Weir (87).

Class 326, Family duet, 15 and under: Bruce Wards, Stewart Wards, Bridge of Weir (86).

Class 327, Family class: Wards Family, Bridge of Weir (88).

Class 31 (Duais Clanngaldhlig), Vocal solo, Gaelic songs, P5 and under: 1, Freya Dinning, Greenock (86); 2, Reece McNeil, Greenock (85).

Class 33 (The Joan MacCaskill Trophy), Vocal solo, Gaelic songs, 18 and under: 1, Alison MacGregor, Greenock (86); 2, Kirsty McArthur, Greenock (85).

Class 30 (Greenock Burns Club Trophy), Burns songs, senior: 1, June Walls, Renfrew (86); 2, John Wilson, Gourock (85).

Class 45, Vocal solo, 60 and over: 1, June Walls, Renfrew (85); 2, Kathy Somers, Glasgow (84).

Class 46 (Rotary Club of Greenock Trophy), Traditional folk song, senior: 1, Wendy King, Glasgow (86); 2, June Walls, Renfrew (85).

Class 49 (Isa Hamill Trophy), Vocal solo, operatic, senior: Wendy King, Glasgow (86).

Class 30, FINAL, Davidson Mitchell Trophy: Roisin Murray, Greenock (89).

INSTRUMENTAL Class 218, Piano duet, Senior: Francesca Watson, Dorothea Adam, Bridge of Weir (177).