​Young musicians, actors and public speakers have been continuing to set a high standard at the annual Mid-Somerset Festival in Bath.

The festival gives young performers the chance to show off their skills in writing, speech and drama, singing, and music competitions.

People from Bath and beyond have been taking part in the festival, which comes to an end on Saturday.

On Monday, singers competed for the Thelma King Award.

The memorial award provides financial support for aspiring singers aged 19 to 33, who are either at college or just embarking on a professional career.

The winner was Maire Flavin, with Aoife Miskelly in second place and Emma Watkinson third.

Marie performed with her accompanist Nico de Villers, and was presented with a cheque for £1,500.

In the music sections, three titles were won by Millfield School in Street, while other winners have included the King Edward’s School senior orchestra and the Prior Park College African Drumming Band.

This week has seen classes for harps and two days of piano classes.

Organisers say the piano standard is always very high and this week has been no exception with two 'outstanding' grades being awarded to Theodore Hayes in the under-nine Piano Repertoire and Lucy Thomas and Emily Lewis in the Piano Duet for nine and under.

Youngsters who are just starting to play an instrument were also catered for with a beginners' workshop for pianists and a junior recorder workshop.

The best of last week’s performances were seen at the festival speech and drama concert in the Guildhall at the weekend.

Performers from Next Stage Youth entered three categories of the group acting classes, winning first and second places.

The youngsters later performed their pieces in a showcase at the Mission Theatre before an audience of more than 100 people.

To get involved with Next Stage Youth, visit www.next-stage.co.uk or ring Ann Garner on 01225 428600.

The overall Actor's Award was adjudicated and awarded to Adam Lloyd-James.

Yesterday morning saw the senior pianists perform.  In the Romantic Piano Solo class, of eight entrants five achieved an outstanding grade with the remainder gaining distinction.  

In the Piano Recital section, three were judged outstanding while two distinction grades were awarded.

Organisers say a young pianist to watch for the future is Kirsty Chaplin, 11, who won the 13 and under repertoire class with an outstanding grade and then went on to gain another outstanding in the Romantic Piano Solo class.

Yesterday was also Junior Music Makers day at the Pavilion. More than 350 children presented their own style of music, from choirs to percussion groups and bands to orchestras.  

Results for Music Classes Saturday 13 March

Class X1    Chamber Music: Trio – Nonet (under 16) Butleigh Brass

Class X3    Trio – Nonet, not quartet (up to year 13)  Millfield Cello Ensemble

Class X5    Instrumental Ensemble (up to year 13)    Millfield Piano Trio

Class X6    Instrumental Chamber Music/Ensemble (open) Millfield Piano Trio

Class X8    Conventional Orchestra (up to year 13)   King Edward’s School Senior

                                Orchestra

Class X9    Orchestra/Band (open)            Prior Park College African

                                Drumming Band

Mid Somerset Festival

Results for Music Classes Tuesday morning 16 March

Class P3    Piano Solo (Grade 1)            Freya Wills

Class P4    Piano Solo (Grade 2)            Emma Jevons

Class P5    Piano Solo (Grade 3)            Jonathon Aiken

Class P10    Piano Repertoire (9 & under)        Theodore Hayes

Class P14    Piano Repertoire (15 & under) – restricted    Gabriel Penn

Class P15    Piano Repertoire (15 & under) – unrestricted    Alexander Haupt

Class P34    Piano Duet (9 & under)            Lucy Thomas & Emily Lewis

Class P36    Piano Duet (13 & under)            Emily Rutter-Eley &

                                Amelia Claridge

Class P38    Piano Duet (17 & under)            Victor Lim & Bethany Johnson

Class P40    Piano Duet (open) (Grade 5 & above)    Alex Prescot & Christine Shaw

Class P43    Piano Trio (six hands) (16 & over)        Alex Prescot/Sasha Clayton/

Clare Farmer

Class R2    Recorder Solo (11 & under)        Megan Warmingsham

Class R3    Recorder Solo (14 & under)        Jennifer Bubbear

Class R4    Recorder Open Solo            Christine Lin

Class R9    Recorder Duet or Trio (open)        Jennifer Bubbear &

                                Christine Lin

Class R12    Recorder Ensemble (11 & under)        Paragon Recorder Ensemble

Class S18    Harp Solo – Elementary            Naomi Chidgey

Class S19    Harp Solo – Intermediate            Kirsty Chaplin

Class S20    Harp Solo – Advanced            Emma Murton    

Class S21    Music with Harp (any combination)    Wells Cathedral School

                                Harp Ensemble

Class W5    Woodwind Solo – Intermediate        Hannah Cross

Class W9    Woodwind Duet - Intermediate        Harriet Gallegos &

Carys Lampard

Results for Music Classes Tuesday afternoon 16 March

Class P6    Piano Solo - Grade 4            Juliette Scriven

Class P7    Piano Solo – Grade 5            Adam Peace

Class P8    Piano Solo - Grade 8            Brian Low

Class P9    Piano Solo – Grade 7            Alexander Haupt

Class P11    Piano Repertoire (11 & under)        Adam Peace

Class P13    Piano Repertoire (13 & under) – unrestricted    Kirsty Chaplin

Class P16    Enjoying Jazz (9 & under)            Ben Pymer

Class P17    Enjoying Jazz (11 & under)        Theo Putler

Class P20    Baroque Piano Solo (15 & under)        Tamsin Ireland

Class P35    Piano Duet (11 & under)            Louise Rusca &

Freya Carruthers

Class P39    Piano Duet (open) (Grade 4 & below)    Chloe Blackstone &

                                Christine Shaw

Class P42    Piano Trio (six hands) (15 & under)    Lucia Guest/Martha Leslie/

                                Alice Rutter-Eley

Class W3    Woodwind Solo – Elementary        Xavier Raynes

Class W4    Woodwind Solo – Transitional        Tommy Morgan

Class W7    Woodwind Solo – Advanced        Agnes Bevan

Class W10    Woodwind Duet – Advanced (any combination)    Jemima Tabeart                                         & Blair Collins-Thomas

Tuesday Evening

        Georgian Music                Bath Spa Georgian Band

Class P12    Piano Repertoire (13 & under) – restricted   Freya Elsy

Class S25    Guitar Solo                    George Howlett

Class W8    Woodwind Solo Repertoire – Advanced    Harry Smith

Class W20    Concerto for Woodwind, Brass or Recorder (open)Rachel Lamerton

Results for Wednesday morning 17 March

Class P22    Own Piano Composition (16 & under)    Daniel Evans

Class P23    Own Piano Composition (17 & over)    Douglas McQuistan

Class P28    Romantic Piano Solo            Bethany Johnson

Class P32    Piano Recital                    Lee Jae Phang

Class S12    Violin/Viola Solo Repertoire – Advanced        Elisabeth Daniels

Class S13    Cello/Double Bass Solo – Advanced    Shu Odawara

Class S14    Cello/Double Bass Solo Repertoire – Advanced    Hauke Jung

Class W13    Brass Solo – Transitional            Hannah Phillips

Class W14    Brass Solo – Intermediate            Oliver Sourbutt

Class W15    Brass Solo Repertoire – Intermediate    Oliver Sourbutt