Organisers and audience thrilled as eisteddfod returns to live performance
The sound of music and performance has returned to a village with its first Eisteddfod since the start of the pandemic.
Hundreds of performers, young and old, have been taking part in Minsterley Eisteddfod, which is being held for the first time since 2019.
Saturday's event featured performers contesting a host of categories, before the weekend concluded on Sunday evening with the celebrity concert, starring the award-winning John’s Boys Male Chorus.
Taking place at Minsterley Parish Hall the event is the 52nd to have been held.
Lesley Holder, eisteddfod committee member and written work secretary, said they had been thrilled to have live performances back.
She said: "It has been absolutely wonderful to be back with a live event, that is what everyone is saying.
"The performers, the adjudicators, everyone is just thrilled to be back and have music being played live."
The event did take place last year, but in a virtual format, with people able to watch performances online.
Mrs Holder said: "That was great because it was all we could do at the time and people were desperate to hear, not quite live performance, but as close as we could get."
She said it had been wonderful to welcome back some of the regular youngsters who perform at the event – with some looking quite different to 2019.
She said: "All day long we have been hearing 'you've shot up' because we are used to seeing these children year after year and it is wonderful to see them back. The first class was instrumental and they were key stage one children and the standard was amazing, it was wonderful."
The Sunday night concert features the choir who were originally scheduled to play in 2019 – and who were named the 'Choir of the World' at the same year's Llangollen Eisteddfod.
Mrs Holder said: "They were booked to come in 2019 and they have been wonderful and they have honoured the contract."
Claire Penrose, the event's general secretary, added: “The Minsterley and District Eisteddfod Committee would like to thank all the competitors who entered the various classes at the event on Saturday. We congratulate the winners and hope that both entrants and visitors enjoyed the occasion and gained pleasure from the performances.
"The committee would also like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the many friends who help out in various ways during the festival weekend as it would be impossible to stage the event without this support."
Around 200 tickets have been sold for the Sunday night performance, with a handful still available, from Mrs J Blyth on 01743 791908.
Award winners from Saturday were named as
Instrumental Solo - up to and including KS2:
Martha Franks, Shrewsbury
Olive Coales, Shrewsbury
Annie Coales, Shrewsbury
Recitation - KS1 & Reception:
Aoife Clifford, Minsterley
Vocal Solo Recitation - KS1 & Reception:
Medi Rowles-Lloyd, Shrewsbury
Sian Rowles-Loyd, Shrewsbury
Recitation - KS2 Years 5/6:
Olive Coales, Shrewsbury
Children’s Choir - up to and including KS4:
TACT Choir, Telford
Original Children’s Poem:
KS3 & 4
Iona Mandal, Birmingham
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Instrumental Solo - KS3:
Natalia Sheldon da Silva, Shrewsbury
Richard Pinsent, Shrewsbury
Poppy Besterman, Shrewsbury
Solo from any Musical Show or Film:
KS3 & 4
Olive Coales, Shrewsbury
Annie Coales, Shrewsbury
Recitation - 18 years and under:
Annie Coales, Shrewsbury
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Vocal Solo - 18 years and under:
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Ben Richards, Shrewsbury
Evening Classes:
Winners
Open Individual Speaking
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Carol Burt, Church Stretton
Original Short Story:
Liz Cass, Worthen
Sarah Cowen-Strong, Worthen
Original Poem:
Diana Platts, Oswestry
Bryan Roberts, Shrewsbury
Limerick:
Diana Platts, Oswestry
Carol Minton, Minsterley
Original Hymn Words:
Sarah Cowen-Strong, Worthen
Michael Dennis, Snailbeach
Original Hymn Tune:
Diana Platts, Oswestry
Open Instrumental Solo:
Ben Richards, Shrewsbury
Richard Pinsent, Shrewsbury
Solo from any Musical Show or Film:
KS4 & Adults
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Mara Musciano, Bedstone
Open Vocal Solo
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Mara Musciano, Bedstone
Open Group Singing:
The Richards Family, Shrewsbury
Open Choirs Competition:
Of One Accord, Shrewsbury
Rockspring Community Choir, Ludlow
Special Awards:
Outstanding Child Instrumentalist:
Natalia Sheldon da Silva, Shrewsbury
Instrumental Bursary (up to and including KS3):
Richard Pinsent, Shrewsbury
Outstanding Child in Elocution events:
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Outstanding Child Vocalist (KS3 & KS4):
Ben Richards, Shrewsbury
Child gaining the most place marks over all final classes:
Olive Coales, Shrewsbury
Child gaining the most place marks over all final classes who lives within a radius of 15 miles of Minsterley:
Olive Coales, Shrewsbury
Best Original Composition in the Children's classes:
Iona Mandal, Birmingham
‘With the heart and understanding’ award:
Ruby Allen, Acton Burnell
Best Original Composition in the Adults classes:
Diana Platts, Oswestry
