Scarlett and Milly crowned Rastrick High School’s young musicians of the year

Rastrick High School has crowned its young musicians of the year following a three-day music festival and nail-biting final attended by the Mayor of Calderdale, Dot Foster.

Singer Scarlett Banks, Year 7, was crowned the 2019 Junior winner for her rendition of Voi Che Sepete by Mozart, while trombonist Milly Lewis, Year 11, scooped the Senior prize for her performance of Concertino by Larson.

The annual festival featured performances from students of brass, woodwind, string, keyboard and percussion instruments, plus singers and Rastrick High School’s Big Band, Concert Band, Junior and Senior choirs, and Chamber Choir.

Commenting on her win, Scarlett said: “I feel excited and proud that in my first year at Rastrick High School I won Junior Musician of the Year. A lot of hard work and dedication has gone in and perseverance”

Talking about the award, Milly added: ‘I was really pleased to have won the Senior Young Musician of the Year, especially as it was my last year at Rastrick. I have enjoyed entering the music festival over the years and I think it provides a great musical focus for people at the end of the school year. I plan on returning to watch the concert in the coming years!’

Year 9 euphonium player, Madeleine Fletcher, received the Eddie Noble award donated by Brighouse and Rastrick Band and given to the young brass player who shows dedication and commitment to the school’s musical groups.

Sean Reilly, Year 13 and Katie Wilson, Year 13 were presented with the school’s H.Lennie award for shown exceptional commitment to extra-curricular music.

Commenting on the event, Madam Mayor, Dot Foster, said:

“I was delighted to be able to attend the festival with my Consort, Mick, and son, Patrick. We were all extremely impressed with the very high standards of musicianship and professionalism.

“Those who performed in the Junior and Senior Musician of the Year competition were all absolutely superb, and all clearly enjoyed taking part. I am very glad I did not have the exceedingly difficult task of deciding a winner.

“It was a very entertaining evening, and I look forward to being able to hear the young people perform again in the future.”

Steve Evans, Headteacher at Rastrick High School, added:

“The Summer Music Festival is one of the many highlights in the school year. The skill and commitment of our very talented students is awe inspiring, with the summer conference acting as a showcase for the skill of the many, many hard-working and musically gifted students we have at the school. The event also underlines the school’s on-going commitment to music and the arts, our commitment to our broad and enriching curriculum means that more and more students are participating in music and the arts.”

Mr Jonathan Marriott, assistant director of music at Rastrick High School, added:

“Music is part of the lifeblood of Rastrick High School, and our Young Musician of The Year competition is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our students and staff to deliver the very best in musical provision and learning.

This commitment to music is bolstered by initiatives such as our Talented Musician Development Programme, which offers up to 30 admissions each year to students who show musical potential, and we are extremely proud to be able to give our students such a fantastic platform from which to develop their passion for music.”

Here is a short video from the evening,