In search of young music stars in Teesdale

BARNARD Castle Rotary Club’s Young Musician competition will be held in January when teenagers and children from Teesdale can show off their ample skills.
The event is taking place at Barnard Castle School on Sunday, January 22, but people should enter in the coming weeks. The overall winner will go on to the Rotary district finals, in Alnwick, in March, followed by regional and national finals.
The competition is open to local schoolchildren with three age groups – eight to 11, 12 to 15 and 16 to 17. There are no set pieces, but the minimum grade standards, or equivalent based on music teacher’s grading are – ages 8 to 11 grade 2; ages 12 – 15 grade 4; and ages 16 – 17 grade 6.
There are three classes of instruments – pianoforte; orchestral strings including guitar; and woodwind and brass. There is also a voice category.
Performances should not exceed ten minutes. A highly qualified independent adjudicator, Margaret Smith, from Leeds, will pick the winners.
Entry forms are available from Teesdale School, Barnard Castle School including the prep school, Staindrop School, St Mary’s RC Primary, Green Lane, Montalbo, Cotherstone and Bowes schools, and the town’s YMCA
Forms can also be downloaded from www.barnard
castlerotary.org.uk or www.
facebook.com/barnardcastle
rotary. Entries close on Friday, December 16. It costs £6 to take part with the money payable at the day, which takes place from 10am to 3.30pm. Entrants should arrive 45 minutes before their scheduled performance time to register and warm up.