Curtain call for 45th Lochaber Music Festival

The 45th Lochaber Music Festival ended on a high note with a closing concert at Lochaber High School, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.

The Lochaber High School Pipers’ Quartet and Cameron MacIsaac (who was a contender for the Premier Traditional Award on his accordion) book-ended a lively and varied selection of speech, dancing and musical items from this year’s classes, as well as the presentation of trophies last Thursday.

The festival was very well supported this year, with entries for Scots piano, Scottish country dancing and adult classes especially welcomed by the organisers.

Festival chairwoman Catherine Cameron said: ‘In this area, we are extremely fortunate to retain our music education during these financially-challenging times – and we hope that, with the support of our sponsors, we can continue to celebrate Lochaber’s performing talents annually for another 45 years.’

Trophy winners

Joan MacKintosh Trophy for Solo Piano (Beginners\ Elementary), Aisling Flavin.

Mary MacPherson Memorial Trophy for Action Dramatised Song, Invergarry Primary 1-3.

Maureen McSherry Memorial Cup, Lily Jane Robertson.

DCB Maitland Memorial Quaich for Miscellaneous Vocal Groups, Songbirds.

Margaret Cairns Rosebowl for Solo Piano (Secondary/ Open), Sophie Rand.

Margaret Rankin Memorial Trophy for Scottish Country Dancing (18 and under), RSCDS Lochaber

Lochaber Music School Junior Trophy for String Solo (Under 8), Lily Cant.

Rosemary Galer Trophy for Solo Violin or Viola (Primary), Nia Read.

Lochaber Music School Primary Trophy for Solo Cello\ Double Bass (Primary), Elodie Place.

Lochaber Music School Secondary Trophy for Solo Violin\Viola (Secondary), Lily Bloom.

Jean Cameron Cup for Solo Cello (Secondary Age), Josie Bloom.

Russell String Duets Trophy for String Duets, Tilly MacDonald, Clare Reynolds, Ben McGregor, Jenny Abell.

Elizabeth Findlay Memorial Trophy for Scots Violin Solo (Age 17 & Under), Seonaidh MacDonald.

Isobel MacPhee Quaich for Violin Solo – Scots, Anna Robertson.

Lochaber Strathspey & Reel Society Trophy for Fiddle Group (Under 18), Na’ Fidhlearn og.

Chamber Music Groups Trophy for Strings, LMS Cello Quintet.

The Thomson Trophy for String Ensembles\Orchestras, LMS Senior String Orchestra, Moyra M MacGregor

Memorial Trophy for Woodwind Solo (Intermediate/ Advanced), Molly Cameron.

Millennium Woodwind Trophy for Woodwind Solo (Most Potential), Shona Knight.

Silver Jubilee Trophy for Group Music Making, Invergarry Primary 4-7, Inverlochy Primary Band, Spean Bridge Primary 4.

J.R.G. Bruce Trophy for Brass (Beginner/Elementary), Lennard Baak.

John Whyte Trophy for Brass Solo (Intermediate/Advanced), Elspeth Murray.

Royal Bank of Scotland Trophy for Woodwind or Brass Ensembles, Slide Power.

Lydia Jackson Trophy for Clarsach Solo, Lily Bloom.

Lochaber Cup for Chanter (Age 10 & Under), Jamie Smith.

William MacLeod Trophy for Chanter Solo (11 and over), Zoe Sinclair.

David MacGregor Cup for

Bagpipe Solo (Intermediate), Natalie Byrne.

Archie Kennedy Memorial Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Age 15 and under – March), Laura Robertson.

Alexander MacDonald Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Age 15 and under – Strathspey & Reel), Andrew Orr.

James Grace Memorial Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Age 16 to 18), Ben Fulford.

Evan MacRae Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Piobaireachd – 1st Year), Andrew Orr.

Lochaber Piping Society Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Piobaireachd – 2nd Year), Ronnie McIntosh.

John MacCallum Memorial Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Piobaireachd – Senior), Laura Robertson.

Lochaber Pipe Band Trophy for Bagpipe Solo (Jig – 18 and under), Laura Robertson.

Alec MacDonald Memorial Trophy for Bagpipe Quartet (18 and under), Lochaber High Pipers.

John Tague Memorial Trophy for Accordion, Cameron MacIsaac.

Val Howland – Cairney Trophy for Solo Verse (age eight and under), Rocco Berardelli.

Solo Verse Speaking Trophy (age nine and 10), Osian Bellshaw.

Caol Community Council Shield for Solo Verse Speaking (11 and over), Lila Berardelli.

Marshall & Pearson Trophy for Choral Verse, Lundavra Primary 7.

Bible Awards for Bible Reading, Charleigh Adams.

Church Guilds’ Trophy for bible reading (Primary 1-3), Charleigh Adams.

Lochaber Burns Club Trophy for Burn’s Poetry, Victoria Golebiowska, Fraser Lindsay.

Lochaber Burns Club awards, Chloe Reynolds.

Lochaber Young Musician of the Year Junior Trophy, Chloe Reynolds.

Lochaber Young Musician of the Year Senior Trophy, Jake Sessions.

Premier Scots Traditional Award, Laura Robertson.

Premier Junior Vocal Award, Lily Jane Robertson.

Premier Adult Vocal Award, Anja Inkson.

Premier Instrumental, Award, Molly Cameron.

John MacDonald Memorial Trophy for Choirs (primary age), Coisir ban Sgoil Gaelic.

Kilmallie Country Dance Club Trophy for Endeavour (age 18 and under), Caol Primary

David C.B. Maitland Award for Piano (Sonata, Scots and Duets), Robert Gosling, Kirsty Ball.

This page from top left: A’Hooligan played at the final concert; Digby Dodman of Banavie Primary School was first in the brass solos elementary; Molly Cameron won the Premier Instrumental Award; brother and sister Rocco and Lila Berardelli took home a trophy each; Cameron MacIssac won the John Tague Memorial Trophy; and Anja Inkson won the premier adult vocal award.

This page from top left: Caol Primary School country dancers won the Kilmallie Country Dance Club Trophy for endeavour; Caol Primary School choir; trophy winners and friends Chloe Reynolds, left, and Lila Berardelli; and Lochaber pipers Ronnie McIntosh, Jamie Smith, Laura Robertson and Andrew Orr with their trophy haul.