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29 March 2018
A talented pianist has been crowned the Blue Riband winner in this year’s much-anticipated music competition at Monmouth School for Girls.
Jocelyn Lo triumphed after an inspiring two-hour musical feast, involving 12 outstanding candidates, to celebrate the Eisteddfod.
Jocelyn, 17, dazzled the audience at Hamersley Hall on Friday 23rd March, with her stunning recital of Copland’s The Cat and the Mouse.
She has been playing the piano since the age of four and had been learning the winning piece for the past three months.
“I memorised the piece because I thought it would help my performance,” said Jocelyn, who represented the Prosser house.
“I always try to enjoy my music and aim to bring my feelings to the audience because that’s how I try to communicate with them.”
She added: “I didn’t expect to win the competition because the standard was incredible, and I think everybody deserved a prize.”
The Eisteddfod is always one of the main highlights in the school’s calendar and the Blue Riband event was re-arranged due to the snow.
The standard of music-making was remarkable.
The adjudicator, Mr Paul Hunt, a former Music teacher at Monmouth School for Boys, had the unenviable task of picking the top four.
Violinist Mererid Jones (Imbert Terry) was awarded second place with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor 3rd Movement.
Clarinettist Maki Brophy (Imbert Terry) came third place with Spohr’s Concerto No 2 – 2nd Movement; and vocalist Jemima Gray (Imbert Terry) was fourth with Schubert’s Du Bist die Ruh.
Monmouth School for Girls’ Director of Music, Mrs Amy Clouter, thanked Mr Hunt for adjudicating, the musicians who took part and those who came along to support.
“The standard of our Blue Riband competition was incredibly high this year and we were very proud to showcase 12 of our most talented musicians” she said.
“All the pupils who took part performed exceptionally well and should be very proud of their efforts. It was an inspiring, moving and hugely enjoyable evening.”
Monmouth School for Girls’ Chamber Choir performed My Lagan Love (Michael Neaum); Someone to Watch Over Me (George Gershwin arr. Kirby Shaw) and Mae Hiraeth yn y Môr (Dilys Elwyn-Edwards) during the event.
Other musicians involved in the Blue Riband event:
Bagnall Oakeley: Pianist Charlotte Underwood, Mazurka in A flat, Op59, No 2 (Chopin); Trumpeter Flora Cheung, You Raise me Up (Lovland); Flautist Rosie Badley, Hypnosis (Clarke).
Mather Jackson: Flautist Izzy Wood, Waltz from Suite Antique (Rutter); Vocalist Angelika Shortanova, I Dreamed a Dream (Schönberg); Vocalist-guitarist Ella James, Feeling Good (Nina Simone).
Prosser: Vocalist Amy Chowns, With You (Stewart and Ballard); Vocalist Eloise Moody, I Can Hear the Bells (Shaiman).
