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<\/a>It all started when Cpl K Handley arrived for duty at 17:23 on Monday.\u00a0 She was the first young participant to arrive for what was to be an enthralling week of music-making.\u00a0 Coincidentally, Cpl Handley was also one of the last to leave, late on Sunday night after a fabulous concert in the Town Hall.\u00a0 Katie is not (so far as I know) a musician, but she is one of the 264 (Skipton) Royal Air Force Air Cadets Squadron, which during the week, gave over 120 hours of calm and efficient service at a time when other stewards are hard to find.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t do without them.<\/p>\nThe Skipton Festival is not, however, all about the adults.\u00a0 Throughout the week, the Festival welcomed performers from 2 and 3 years of age to mature school leavers preparing to make their way into an adult world of music.\u00a0 Each day has its own theme.\u00a0 Tuesday\u2019s piano classes gave way to the strings, guitars, glockenspiels, fifes and woodwind of Wednesday.\u00a0 Recorders dominated Thursday and Friday was Choir Day, ranging from the tinies in their nursery classes to confident performances from junior school choirs in the afternoon.\u00a0 The youth part of the Festival ended with Friday evening\u2019s Recital classes.<\/p>\n There were plenty of amazing performances during the week, with some repeated in Sunday\u2019s Gala Concert where we shared the stage with the amazing international saxophonist, Jess Gillam.\u00a0 Alfie Davies had given an outstanding vocal performance from \u201cMatilda\u201d, but couldn\u2019t join us on Sunday as he was busy being crowned as Overall Champion at another event in Harrogate.\u00a0 Our own Best Under 19 performer was the outstanding 13 year old violinist, Saanvi Reddy while the Ann Ware Trophy for the Best Senior Recital went to the third outstanding performance of the week, Hamish Wills, on soprano saxophone. We speak of progression.\u00a0 A major delight throughout the week has been our official accompanist.\u00a0 The accompanist rarely gets much mention, but Nicole Johnson is rather special to us.\u00a0 She grew up with the Skipton Festival and now has a successful musical career in London.\u00a0 Her sensitive accompaniment and tender care for our young and nervous recorder players won her as much appreciation as did her brilliant accompanying of some of the more challenging pieces, including some fiendish compositions for Jess Gillam on Sunday night.<\/p>\n<\/a>Performer numbers were, not surprisingly, lower than we are used to but the quality of those performances was certainly not.\u00a0 Throughout the week, we were treated to a feast of (sometimes unexpected) moments of brilliance.\u00a0 Our first evening brought us several high quality examples of adult flute playing while on Tuesday we were treated to a duet, sung by Finn and his dad, Mike.\u00a0 Strictly speaking, it was not \u201cGreat Music\u201d but a performance that was deservedly greeted with a standing ovation and which on Sunday was awarded the President\u2019s prize for the performance which gave the greatest pleasure.<\/p>\n<\/a>It is that range which is the strength and purpose of the Festival.\u00a0 It is not just about remarkable performances, it\u2019s a journey for our youngsters.\u00a0 This year that journey began with the pre-schoolers listening to a concert from a small band of young players, before performing their own song and then joining in as a massed choir (including the whole audience!)\u00a0 The 7- and 8-year-olds then begin their solo careers, perhaps on piano or recorder, growing up and moving onto new instruments, gaining experience and confidence as they grow.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n