Every year Darlington plays host to a music and drama festival. This year the Darlington Festival for Performing Arts took place at Carmel RC College.

Viveca Bradshaw, a local singing teacher entered 20 of her students with a wide variety of ages, in the music festival which took place on Saturday 6th March. Viveca entered students in a total of 5 classes throughout the day and came away with exceptionally rewarding results. Out of the 20 students that Viveca entered to compete, 15 achieved places, and throughout the day not one of her students received a mark lower than 83.

In total Viveca’s students were awarded three 1sts, five 2nds and seven 3rds. Viveca described the results as “overwhelming” and also said “I am very proud of all my students and delighted with the places we received”.

The names and results achieved by Viveca’s prized students are as follows:

Musical/LightOpera (Age 13-17yrs)

2nd Poppy Coates, Age 14 (88) 3rd Zoe Birbeck , Age 13 (87)

Disney (Age 13-17)

1st Zoe Birbeck, Age 13 (88) 2nd Sara Hird, Age 13 (87) 3rd [Joint] Sarah Wastnedge, Age 16 and Holly Chittenden, Age 16 (86)

Vocal Solo (Age 13-17)

1st Jenny Ridley, Age 14 (88) 2nd Emily Whyborne, Age 13 (87) 3rd Christian Potter, Age 13 (86)

Vocal Solo (Under 12yrs)

2nd Mica Newcomb, Age 10 (85) 3rd Chloe Daley, Age 12 (84)

Disney (Under 12yrs)

1st Ethan Hurworth, Age 10 (88) 2nd Bethany Burrows, Age 9 (87) 3rd [Joint] Holly Newton, Age 9 and Mia Cooper Age 9 (86)

By Alex Hughes