Holmfirth Musical Festival is a competition for instrumentalists and singers,
small vocal and instrumental ensembles and choirs.

We were unable to run a Festival in 2024
because of insufficient help in organising it.
Our AGM will be on Wednesday 20th November, 7:15pm at Holmfirth Methodist Church.

There was a bumper entry at the 2023 Festival, with over 200 performances taking place over the three days.  The results are listed below.  However, the future of the Festival is far from secure, despite this record entry.  Our AGM was held in November, and some of the long-serving committee members retired.  In order to continue, their responsibiities will need to be taken over by others.  Whilst a few new members joined the committee last year, more are needed, especially those willing to give some time during the year preparing for the next Festival.   A description of the way the Festival has recently been planned, and the roles needed, is available at www.hmf.org.uk/joblist.pdf.  This gives some idea of what's involved, but the way things are done can and should evolve with time, and we can change to suit those able to help.  Maybe that could be you? If you can offer any help, please contact us (email as in the poster above).

The 76th Competition

Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 October 2023

Holmfirth Civic Hall

Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3AS
(almost opposite the Fire Station.  Parking in Crown Bottom Car Park - down School St, or Crown St. off Huddersfield Rd. opposite the Civic Hall)

Adjudicators: Marilynne Davies, Steven Roberts

Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 13) - First: Sophie Watkins; Second: Clementine Joni Melling Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 15) - First: Eleanor Hanson Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 19) - First: Lucy Hanson Pianoforte Solo(under 9) - First: Anthina Bartholomew-Venizelos Pianoforte Solo(under 11) - First: Walton Gan Pianoforte Solo(under 13) - First: Lucy Smith; Second: Alice Hobson, Mirth Tat Pianoforte Solo(under 15) - First: Walton Gan; Second: Alice Hobson, Mirth Tat Pianoforte Solo(under 17) - First: Kirsty Smith Pianoforte Solo(Open) - First: David Lin Pianoforte Duet(under 16) - First: Kirsty Smith and Lucy Smith Solo Singing for Boys(under 12) - First: Lenny Paskin Solo Singing for Boys(unbroken voice) - First: Lenny Paskin Solo Singing for Girls(under 12) - First: Lexy Connell; Second: Florence Lee Solo Singing for Girls(under 15) - First: Lexi Pygott; Second: Clementine Joni Melling Solo Singing for Girls(under 18) - First: Madeleine North; Second: Emily Richmond Junior Songs from the Shows(under 14) - First: Mollie Moorhouse Junior Songs from the Shows(under 18) - First: Madeleine North Soprano Solo(Open) - First: Claire Helm Contralto Solo(Open) - First: Georgie Lindley Tenor Solo(Open) - First: Colin Shires Operatic solo, all voices(Open) - First: Claire Helm Oratorio Solo, all voices(Open) - First: Colin Shires Light Operatic Solo, all voices(Open) - First: Claire Helm Schumann / Schubert(Open) - First: Colin Shires Small Vocal Ensembles, 2 to 5 voices, (Open) - First: Ruby Baxter & Scarlett Keeling Family Class (vocal and / or instrumental)(Family) - First: Hanson Family Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 6 and below) - First: Sophie and Edward Watkins Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 9 and below) - First: Note Brass Ensemble Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 11 and below) - First: Hanson Arts Junior String Quartet Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(under 19) - First: Hanson Arts String Quartet  Instrumental Ensemble, 2 or more players(Open) - First: Hanson Arts Strings Pop Ballad(over 14 and under 18) - First: Toby Kershaw Songs from Walt Disney(under 12) - First: Nellie Bee Songs from Walt Disney(under 15) - First: Evie Rose Owen Songs from Walt Disney(under 18) - First: Lucy Hanson Dorothy Drinkwater Memorial Trophy - Walton Gan Winifred Brook Trophy - Walton Gan Junior Rosebowl - Lexi Pygott Louise Hinchliffe Trophy - Evie Rose Owen Kendall Green 60th Jubilee Award - Madeleine North The Director's Cup - the Hanson Family Mabel Whitely Rose Bowl - Colin Shires Ridings Trophy - Eleanor Hanson Rotary Club of Holmfirth Millennium Trophy - Madeleine North.

Anthina wins the under 9 Piano class MORE PICTURES FROM THE 2023 FESTIVAL ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Last year's Festival results, 13th - 15th October 2022

Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 13) -   First: Eleanor Hanson;   Second: Leofint Tat;   Third: Mirth Tat Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 15) -   First: Eleanor Hanson;   Second: Lucy Hanson;   Third: Mirth Tat Solo Instruments excluding pianoforte & guitar(under 19) -   First: Phoebe Jones Pianoforte Solo(under 9) -   First: Walton Gan;   Second: Joshua Kenefick;   Third: Nellie Bradley Pianoforte Solo(under 11) -   First: Walton Gan;   Second: Lucy Smith;   Third: Jenson William Pearson Pianoforte Solo(under 13) -   First: Kirsty Smith;   Second: Jenson William Pearson;   Third: Emma O'Donnell,  Holly Armitage Pianoforte Solo(under 15) -   First: Leofint Tat;   Second: Phoebe Jones;   Third: Walton Gan Pianoforte Solo(under 17) -   First: David Lin;   Second: Mirth Tat Pianoforte Solo(Open) -   First: Nicole Stella Jessop;   Second: Poppy Mitchell Pianoforte Duet(under 13) -   First: Kirsty Smith and Lucy Smith;   Second: Holly Armitage and Evelyn McAvinue;   Third: Emma O'Donnell and Eleanor Wood Solo Singing for Boys(under 12) -   First: Jenson William Pearson Solo Singing for Boys(unbroken voice) -   First: Jenson William Pearson Solo Singing for Girls(under 12) -   First: Lexy Connell;   Second: Gilda Melling;   Third: Phoebe Hollinson,  Clementine Melling Solo Singing for Girls(under 15) -   First: Mabel Blackwill;   Second: Emily Richmond;   Third: Poppy Ferguson Solo Singing for Girls(under 18) -   First: Madeleine North Junior Songs from the Shows(under 14) -   First: Evie Rose Owen;   Second: Phoebe Hollinson;   Third: Libby May Stirling Rose Bowl Competition(Open) -   First: Colin Shires Children's Choir Class(Children's choirs) -   First: Huddersfield Choral Young Voices Family Class (vocal and / or instrumental)(Family) -   First: Hanson Family Challenge Choir Class(adult choirs) -   First: Marsh Ladies Choir;   Second: Affinity Show Choir Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 6 and below) -   First: Hanson Arts Junior Strings Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 9 and below) -   First: Note Brass Ensemble Instrumental Ensemble, 2 to 20 players(Year 11 and below) -   First: Hanson Arts Senior Strings Junior Songs from the Shows(under 18) -   First: Emily Richmond;   Second: Madeleine North;   Third: Abigail Webster Rotary Millennium Trophy(14 to 25) -   First: Lucy Hanson Instrumental Ensemble, 2 or more players(Open) -   First: Hanson Arts String Group;   Second: Hanson Arts Ukulele Group Pop Ballad(over 14 and under 18) -   First: Georgie Lindley;   Second: Madeleine North;   Third: Emily Richmond Songs from Walt Disney(under 12) -   First: Jenson William Pearson;   Second: Flora Bradley;   Third: Kitty Lynch Songs from Walt Disney(under 15) -   First: Evie Rose Owen;   Second: Emily Richmond;   Third: Libby May Stirling Songs from Walt Disney(under 18) -   First: Evie Rose Owen;   Second: Madeleine North;   Third: Abigail Webster Junior Rosebowl - Jenson William Pearson

Young Pianists at the 2022 Festival. Piano Trophy winners at the 2022 Festival. Adjudicator Steven Roberts gets down to talk to the Huddersfield Choral Young Voices after their performance .... ....and then presents them with the trophy.

Results of the last pre-Covid Festival, 18th - 19th October 2019

Pianoforte Solo(under 9) -   First: Lucy Smith Pianoforte Solo(under 11) -   First: Kirsty Smith;   Second: Catherine Elizabeth Hodgson Pianoforte Solo(under 13) -   First: Niamh Johnson;   Second: Kirsty Smith Pianoforte Solo(under 15) -   First: Annie Li;   Second: Annie May Cottle;   Third: Lydia Ruth Tobi Pianoforte Solo(Open) -   First: Nicole Stella Jessop Pianoforte Duet(under 11) -   First: Amelia Tabb and Amelia Poulston Pianoforte Duet(under 16) -   First: Louis Kidger and Annie Li Solo Singing for Girls(under 12) -   First: Clementine Melling Solo Singing for Girls(under 15) -   First: Madeleine North;   Second: Emma Nelson Solo Singing for Girls(under 18) -   First: Madeleine North;   Second: Emma Nelson Junior Songs from the Shows(under 14) -   First: Madeleine North;   Second: Clementine Melling Soprano Solo(Open) -   First: Carol Parkinson;   Second: Hannah Wharton Contralto Solo(Open) -   First: Patricia Waller;   Second: Rebecca Waterhouse Tenor Solo(Open) -   First: Richard Buxton Baritone Solo(Open) -   First: Colin Shires Operatic solo, all voices(Open) -   First: Hannah Wharton Oratorio Solo, all voices(Open) -   First: Colin Shires Light Operatic Solo, all voices(Open) -   First: Malcolm Parkinson Songs from Twentieth Century Shows(Open) -   First: Richard Buxton,  Rebecca Waterhouse Folk Song, unaccompanied or self-accompanied(open) -   First: Hannah Wharton Schumann / Schubert(Open) -   First: Richard Buxton Small Vocal Ensembles, 2 to 5 voices, (Open) -   First: Carol & Malcolm Parkinson Children's Choir Class(Children's choirs) -   First: Huddersfield Choral Young Voices Family Class -   First: Hazel Davis & Clementine Melling;   Second: Sambrook Family Challenge Choir Class(adult choirs) -   First: Denby Dale Ladies Choir Rotary Millennium Trophy(recital class, 14 to 25) -   First: Colin Shires Instrumental Ensemble, 2 or more players(Open) -   First: Hanson Community Arts String Group;   Second: Hanson Community Arts Ukulele Group Solo Instruments (brass)(under 13) -   First: Phoebe Jones Solo Instruments (strings)(under 13) -   First: Lucy Hanson;   Second: Eleanor Hanson;   Third: Phoebe Jones Solo Instruments (brass)(under 15) -   First: Phoebe Jones Solo Instruments (strings)(under 15) -   First: Edith Berryman;   Second: Nicole Stella Jessop Solo Instruments (under 19) -   First: Edith Berryman Special Trophies: Louise Hinchliffe Trophy (for the most promising young vocalist) – Madeleine North J. Martyn Wilcock Trophy (high marks in instrumental classes) – Lucy Hanson Ridings Trophy (high marks in instrumental classes) – Edith Berryman Pratty Flowers Rosebowl (competed for by the winners of the junior vocal classes) – Clementine Melling Dorothy Drinkwater Memorial Trophy (for the most promising pianist under 11 years old) – Kirsty Smith Holme Valley Trophy (for the girl residing in the Holme Valley with highest marks in piano class) – Annie May Cottle Winifred M. Brook Trophy (for the most meritorious performance in piano classes) – Kirsty Smith Mabel Whitely Rosebowl (competed for by the winners of the adult voice classes) – Patricia Waller L. K. Green 60th Jubilee Award (for the most outstanding vocalist of the competition) – Rebecca Waterhouse Director’s Cup (for the most entertaining performance of the Festival) – Malcolm Parkinson.

Winners of the under 16 piano duet class. Young Pianists at the 2019 Festival.

Many thanks to the family of the late Dorothy Drinkwater for donating a new trophy in her memory.  Dorothy had been a supporter of the Festival for several decades, teaching both young singers and pianists.

The picture shows Dorothy's niece presenting the trophy to Emily Winter, the most promising under 11 pianist in the 2018 Festival

For further information, please email