Results are in for a Festival to be proud of

The 2016 Hastings Musical Festival reached its climax in an exciting Festival Finale last Saturday, showing an exceptionally high standard of performance, which had been praised across all sections by the adjudicators who awarded the Festival’s prestigious Gold Medals in Piano, Strings, Singing and Dance.

A large and appreciative audience enjoyed the colourful show on Saturday with West End star Sophie-Louise Dann presenting the Prizes.

She awarded the Audience Favourite Prizes of £200 each to young opera singer, Hazel Neighbour and the “Alice in Wonderland” classical dance sequence from Laton Ash Dance Centre.

Sophie-Louise spoke passionately of her formative years taking part in the Hastings Musical Festival and of the wonderful opportunities that the Festival offers to young performers.

There is still time to apply for one of the 2016 Festival’s annual grants on offer to their young performers going off for further training in the Performing Arts. Apply to the General Secretary to find out more. Visit www.hastingsmusicalfestival.co.uk.

Pictures by Mary Fraser Photography. To order a print call 01424 422815.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.hastingsobserver.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hastingsobserver

3 Follow us on Twitter @HastingsObs

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Hastings Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.