Youngsters strum their way to success

ASPIRING acoustic sensations were out in droves in the guitar section of the Portsmouth Music Festival.

This year’s event was moved to a new location, taking place at the Minghella Studio in the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth.

Adjudicating this section of the festival was renowned classical guitarist, Carlos Bonell.

Carlos’ work has been hailed by critics as some of the most emotionally compelling acoustic work – Classical Guitar Magazine UK said: ‘He is one of the great communicators of the guitar world.’

Head of guitar Arne Brattland said: ‘Carlos seemed to have attracted an unusual amount of participants, and he quickly proved to be fair, friendly, witty and instructive in his comments to all the players, who included the whole range of standards from almost beginner to advanced.’

Arne Brattland also commented that the performers and performances at this stage of the event was some of the most varied that the Portsmouth Music Festival has seen this year.

Arne added: ‘We saw soloists, duos, and even larger ensembles and had also non-classical offerings, including steel guitar, ukelele and a smashing performance of Jerry’s Breakdown (Jerry Reed/Chet Atkins) by Ollie Searle and Finn Fleming. Carlos also found time for a few informal mini-masterclasses with some players.

‘All in all, it was a very successful day for everyone involved.’

The finale for the Portsmouth Music Festival will be their final gala concert on Sunday, April 2 – taking place from 7pm at The Kings Theatre, Southsea.

Tickets cost £12 for adults, £8 for OAPs and £7 for children, and can be ordered by calling (023) 9282 8282 or going to the theate website: kings-southsea.co.uk

The full results are as follows:

Benjamin Trippick - Own choice solo – 18 years and under – Grade 1 - P -

Dan Betsworth - Own choice solo – 18 years and under – Grade 2 - HC - The Lewis Groth Ward-Saunders Cup

Edward Sweet - Own choice solo – 18 years and under – Grades 3-4 - HC - The Vice Chairman’s Guitar Cup

Calum Urquhart / Theo Mantel-Cooper - Own choice solo – 18 years and under – Grades 5-6 - HC -

Noah Golding - Own choice solo – 18 years and under – Open - M -

Elizabeth Davis - Own choice solo – 19 years and over – Grades 1-4 - HC - The Clarendon Cup

Michael Morgan - Own choice solo – 19 years and over – Grades 5-8 - M -

Zoe Barnett - Recital Class – any age - D - The Victoria Cup

Samuel Waring - Pupil and teacher duet classes – Grades 1-2 - M - The String Guitar centre Trophy

Aimee O’donoghue - Pupil and teacher duet classes – Grades 3-4 - M -

Calum Urquhart - Pupil and teacher duet classes – Grades 5-6 - HC - The String Guitar Centre Trophy no. 2

Ollie Searle / Finn Fleming - Open Duet - M - The Hago Cup

Derek Hasted / Gilly Slot - Guitar and other instruments - M -

Ukeladies - Guitar and/or Ukelele only - M -

The Bosham Trio - Guitar ensemble under 15 years - M -

West Sussex Guitar Club Ensemble - Guitar ensemble any age - M