SELIM AND HEATHER WIN YOUNG MUSICIANS AWARDS
Eighteen of the most talented young musicians from Chester and district took part on Sunday 13 November 2011 in Chester Music Society’s Young Musician competition at the King’s School. From the youngest - 12 year old pianist Marcus Reynolds - to the tallest - 6 foot 4 inch rower and saxophonist Nicholas Bradley - the contestants demonstrated yet again the depth of musical talent in our area. Competition organizer Mrs Lila Hallett of the Music Society said “it is so encouraging to see that young people are still making the effort to achieve great things in classical music”.
Eventually, after a hard-fought contest pianist Selim Ungut triumphed by the narrowest of margins. Second prize in the instrumental section was taken by euphonium player Daniel Morgan and third place by saxophonist Nicholas Bradley. Of Selim Ungut’s playing of Liszt, Ravel and Debussy adjudicator Kelvin Leslie said: “This was a highly accomplished, stylish performance”.
Selim lives in Guilden Sutton. He is an Upper Sixth student at the Kings School Chester and began playing the piano at an early age. He studies piano with John Gough and in summer 2010 gained his Associated Board Performance Diploma passing with distinction. Selim has won prizes at several competitions including winning the Charles Scarrat Music Award in 2010. He often takes part in various ensembles, performing in The Kings School Piano Trio and accompanying the Waverton Singers choir.
In the vocal section first prize went to soprano Heather Heighway who performed a brilliant recital of songs from all periods: from Purcell (Not all my torments) to Menotti (All that Gold, from Amahl and the Night Visitors). Joint second prizes were awarded to Suzanne McGrath and Faye Anglesea.
Heather, from Great Sutton, is a 21-year-old soprano in her 3rd year studying under Anne Dawson at Birmingham Conservatoire. She has a passion for classical singing and her opera credits include a Fox Cub in Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen and 1st Witch in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Heather has won many prizes across the North West including a recital prize at The Mrs Sunderland Music Festival, and she was the highest scoring singer this year at The Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts. She enjoys singing for choirs and has performed as a guest soloist with Chester Male Voice Choir and Chester Ladies Choir. Heather also sings regularly in the Camerata Choir at Birmingham Conservatoire, as well as the Conservatoire Chorus, and has sung in performances of Britten's War Requiem and William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast in Birmingham Town Hall.
Music Society Chairman David Woods commented: “The Society is delighted with the way this first venture has been welcomed by the music community. We look forward to repeating the exercise next year. In the meantime, the public will be able to hear the winners again when they perform a special concert in St Mary’s Centre, Chester on 29 February 2012”.
Voice
1st Heather Heighway
Equal second Suzanne McGrath and Faye Angelsea, 
Instrument
1st Selim Ungut, Piano
2nd Daniel Morgan, Euphonium
3rd Nick Bradley, Saxophone
Very Highly Commended
Terence Au
James Ellis
Highly Commended
Imogen Royce
Megan Royce
Marcus Reynolds
Andrew Fyfe
Commended
Olivia Fennell
Katya Nell
Tom Metcalf
