Top marks as Ben and Rufus wow audience
Moorlands pianists perform at Festival of Music
TWO young Staffordshire Moorlands pianists have wowed an audience at the Newcastle Festival of Music.
The festival of music was held at the Clayton Hall Academy. It is held annually to offer the opportunity for all ages to perform in front of an audience while gaining valuable feedback and advice from the adjudicators, which ultimately help performers develop their passion and skills further.
Two Moorlands students from Ipstones and Bottomhouse entered into the pianoforte categories.
Ben Deaville, aged 16, from Bottomhouse performed Elegy For the Arctic by Ludovico Einaudi and Sweet Dreams by Tchikovsky, while Rufus Whittingham, aged 15, from Ipstones performed Rule Britannia by Thomas Arne.
There was an incredibly high standard of performances across all ages and categories. All three performances were given fantastic feedback and one performance especially stood out in particular.
Piano performance adjudicator Christine Palmer awarded Ben Deaville’s Elegy for the Arctic with a distinction, resulting in Ben winning first prize in his category.
Following the event Ben said: “I was very happy to receive the trophy from Newcastle Festival of Music. I have put in many hours of practice with the help of my excellent piano teacher Jarrod
Ford. I would like to thank Christine Palmer for her outstanding judging of the competition.
“I love Ludovico Einaudi’s compositions, and I understood his meaning behind the elegy I played. The piano allows me to express myself perfectly and I’m looking forward to entering the competition next year.” Rufus also thoroughly enjoyed performing and received positive feedback. He said: “I enjoyed it very much and I would like to thank Jarrod Ford for his incredible teaching.”
Ben, who attends Leek High School and Rufus who attends
The JCB Academy, are students of Jarrod Ford from Peak Music based primarily in Whiston.
Jarrod launched Peak Music four years ago with the focus being on offering inspirational piano tuition, however, they now offer tuition on all musical instruments including guitar, drums, violin, singing plus many other instruments.
Peak Music is a not for profit organisation offering face to face and online instrumental music lessons through a partnership of tutors across various locations in and around the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Peak District. Alongside offering inspirational tuition it also focuses on creating and funding concerts for all ages and abilities.
The next outdoor students’ concert is planned for July this year in the grounds of The Alton Bridge Hotel on the banks of the River Churnet.
The piano allows me to express myself perfectly and I’m looking forward to entering the competition again Ben Deaville